"Mr. Dide—oh, he's with you, is he?" and there came a smile into the Deacon's face, as he repeated the name, that, with his tone, indicated nothing to be apprehended by the speaker from the vicinity or presence of Mr. Dide, and in addition, his air was patronizing. Had I not known the Deacon well, having much faith in his kindness of heart, his manner in speaking of my newer friend would have proved offensive.
"If you are so fortified in your own mind, Deacon, you can afford to speak less cavalierly of Mr. Dide."
"Fortified?" he repeated, "how fortified? Don't talk in riddles, old boy."
"You understand, well enough—victory should make you courteous to the conquered."
"Why, my dear sir, I never treated him uncivilly."
"Perhaps not, but you spoke uncivilly of him—you called him a dude, and your manner, just now——"
"Well, is he not a dude?"
"He is every inch a gentleman, Deacon."
"I may not dispute that; but you seem to take great interest in him."