David and John had been driving for some time in silence.

The elder man was apparently musing upon something which had been suggested to his mind.

The horses slackened their gait to a walk as they began the ascent of a long hill.

Presently the silence was broken by a sound which caused John to turn his head with a look of surprised amusement--Mr.Harum was singing.

The tune, if it could be so called, was scaleless, and these were the words: "_Mon_day _mor_nin' I _mar_ried me a _wife_, _Think_in' to _lead_ a _more_ contented _life_; _Fid_dlin' an' _danc_in' _the_' was _played_, To _see_ how un_happy_ poor _I_ was _made_.
"_Tues_day _morn_in', _'bout_ break o' _day_, _While_ my _head_ on the _pil_ler did _lay_, She _tuned_ up her _clack_, an' _scold_ed _more_ _Than_ I _ever_ heard be_fore_." "Never heard me sing before, did ye ?" he said, looking with a grin at his companion, who laughed and said that he had never had that pleasure.
"Wa'al, that's all 't I remember on't," said David, "an' I dunno 's I've thought about it in thirty year.