“You were, very much indeed off the trail,” commented Philip.
“He needn’t tell such whoppers about it,” Dan said inwardly; “and I don’t see why he should keep it a secret from me.”
Aloud he said: “Whatever your reasons may be for warning me not to fall in love with Miss Lane, I will respect them. But there is not much to be feared in that quarter. The little lady did flirt with me when I was a blind man, but now she is all propriety.”
Philip was satisfied, for he knew that Dan’s word was as good as another man’s oath.
“I am not staying on to dinner,” Philip next said. “I want to get to work; moreover, the evenings begin to close in, and the road is lonely and rutty, and I don’t want any more trouble with Soda’s hock.”
Seeing his mother coming towards them, he explained to her that he was going.
“When will you bring the story to read to us, dear?” she asked.
“Oh, some time,” he answered. “I am going to read it to the folks at the White House. Alvin asked me to do so. He thinks it will interest Miss Le Breton. You know I always said I would do anything I could for poor Eweretta’s half-sister.”
“Dear, faithful heart!” ejaculated the mother.
Somehow the remark made Philip very uncomfortable.