"There! I knew! Will you take away your sympathy? I haven't anything to do with it."
"You'll tell me, please, if I can do anything for you, or up at your house. Do you live near here?"
"It's a long way. You can't go."
"Oh, yes, I can. I like walking."
He locked the door, and dropped the key when he was done. I picked it up, before he could get it.
A melodious "Thank you," coming as from another being, rewarded me.
"Let me stop and tell my sister, and I'll go with you," I said, believing that he had consented.
The old voice again was used as he said,--
"No, you had better not"; and he quickly walked on his way.
Completely baffled in my expectation of touching this strange being by proffers of kindness, I turned toward the parsonage. Aaron was already gone on his ministerial mission.