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 "Yes, um! yes; I called, John, to tell thee how greatly indebted—"

"Now please be good enough, Neighbor Watson, not to talk of the matter. Why, for two whole days there has been nothing for me to do but stand and listen, and if I took up a hammer or saw, it was plain that I gave offence," and John hoped the appeal would end the conversation, but was mistaken. In the quiet of colonial days events did not follow in such quick succession that in two days a matter like this would be forgotten.

"But then it was proper that I should express—"

"Yes, yes, I know; but really, Neighbor Watson, there is too much made of the matter, and if Ruth has not suffered any ill effects, there is nothing further to be said." And John again hoped for silence in the future.

Matthew Watson could not understand John's motive in baffling his efforts to talk the matter over, and John did not suspect that Matthew had more to say than merely a formal thanking for effective assistance at a