And if you want my opinion it strikes me as being a much more honorable way of employing your new riches than mediating in your neighbors' squabbles.

But it's getting late and I'm afraid we must bring our talk to an end.

I hope you'll think this over before we meet again--and think differently." Nevertheless, as they both left the schoolhouse, Mr.Ford lingered over the locking of the door to give Uncle Ben a final chance for further explanation.

But none came.

The new capitalist of Indian Spring regarded him with an intensification of his usual half sad, half embarrassed smile, and only said: "You understand this yer's a secret, Mr.Ford ?" "Certainly," said Ford with ill-concealed irritation.
"'Bout my bein' sorter married ?" "Don't be alarmed," he responded dryly; "it's not a taking story." They separated; Uncle Ben, more than ever involved in his usual unsatisfactory purposes, wending his way towards his riches; the master lingering to observe his departure before he plunged, in virtuous superiority, into the woods that fringed the Harrison and McKinstry boundaries..