"I'll get a condition before I do it.

I call on my fellow-townsman here--I won't say my fellow-Christian, 'cause he wouldn't think that much of a compliment--to do the same thing.

If he'll do it, I will; if he won't, I won't." Simon Basset looked down at Doctor Prescott with malicious triumph.

Everybody stared at the two men.
"Why don't ye speak up, doctor--hey ?" asked Simon Basset, finally.
"Because I do not consider such an outrageous proposition worthy of consideration, Mr.Basset," returned the doctor, with a calm aside elevation of his clear profile, and not the slightest quickening of his even voice.
"Then ye don't believe there's a man livin' capable of givin' away his all for the Lord an' His poor any more'n I do, an' I calculate you jedge so from the workin's of your own heart an' knowin' what you'd do in like case, jest like me," said Simon Basset.
Doctor Prescott made a quick motion, and the color flashed over his thin face.

"I made no such assertion," he said, hotly, for his temper at last was up over his icy bonds of will.
"Looks so," said Simon Basset.
"You have no right to make such a statement, sir," returned the doctor, and his lips seemed to cut the air like scissors.
"What is it, then ?" returned the other.