"I never asked her," he replied, in truth a little surprised at his own willingness to be questioned.
"Did ye cal'late to when the time come right ?" pursued Mr.Harum.
Of this part of his history John had, of course, never spoken to David.
There had been a time when, if not resenting the attempt upon his confidence, he would have made it plain that he did not wish to discuss the matter, and the old wound still gave him twinges.

But he had not only come to know his questioner very well, but to be much attached to him.

He knew, too, that the elder man would ask him nothing save in the way of kindness, for he had had a hundred proofs of that; and now, so far from feeling reluctant to take his companion into his confidence, he rather welcomed the idea.

He was, withal, a bit curious to ascertain the drift of the inquiry, knowing that David, though sometimes working in devious ways, rarely started without an intention.

And so he answered the question and what followed as he might have told his story to a woman.
"An' didn't you never git no note, nor message, nor word of any kind ?" asked David.
"No." "Nor hain't ever heard a word about her f'm that day to this ?" "No." "Nor hain't ever tried to ?" "No," said John.