One evening Henry remarked that he was compelled to leave town on the day following and that he might be absent nearly a week.
"Why, how is this ?" Witherspoon asked, with a sudden change of manner.
"The other day you almost swore that it was impossible for you to leave home, and now you are compelled to go.

What do you mean ?" "I have business out of town, and it demands my attention." "_Business_ out of town.

The other day you despised business; now you've got business out of town.

I'll take an oath right now that you are the strangest mortal I ever struck." "I admit the appearance of inconsistency," Henry replied.
"And I _know_ the existence of it," Witherspoon rejoined.
"You think so.

The truth is that the affair I now have on hand had something to do with my objecting to leave town last week." "Why don't you tell me what it is ?" "I will when the time is ripe." The merchant grunted.