Page:A Colonial Wooing.djvu/43

 "William, thee left an iron in the fire that is far more likely to suffer than thy forty pounds." And taking the hint, John's timid partner slipped quietly back to the shop and was seen no more. Turning then to Robert Pearson, John continued, "Let us counsel patience when we have so much to do to make our community a success, and certainly anything like a quarrel is a step backward."

Robert said nothing in reply, and while it was plain that he was annoyed and took the reproof as a disguised threat, it was equally evident that he would be very slow to pick a quarrel with John Bishop, than whom there was no more peaceful man in the province, and yet none that would more promptly face danger if the necessity arose. To these gifts should be added a happy quickness of wit that grasped an awkward situation promptly and placed others at ease more quickly than their own efforts would have done. "You were talking of the ferry, I think, so let us walk down to it now, and on the spot we can better plan for the change to a bridge, if determined upon." And the group started for