“Nobody but Deacon Quickset, ma’am.”

“Ah?  Deacon Quickset?  Did he say anything that annoyed you in any way?”

“I can’t say that he did, ma’am; though he kind o’ filled my mind with doubts an’ gave me a sort o’ sleepless evenin’.”

“I’m very sorry for that.  There’s some one else who may trouble you somewhat, and I’m sorry to say that if he does I shall be to blame for it.  He is a young lawyer.  His name is Reynolds Bartram.”

“I know him, ma’am; at least, I know him by sight.  He’s of very good stock, ma’am.  His folks have been in this county a longtime, from what I’ve heerd, off an’ on.”

“Very true,” replied Mrs. Prency; “but he has peculiar views, and when he hears of any one who believes—­believes in religion as you do, he is quite likely to visit him and to ask a great many questions.”

“Well, ma’am, if he comes in on me anywhere, an’ asks any questions, an’ they’re on the subject I talked about that night at the church meetin’, why, I’ll say anythin’ I know an’ everythin’ I believe, an’ if he says anythin’ on the other side, why, all I’ve got to say is, he can’t change my mind the least bit.”

“I’m very glad to hear you say so,” said Mrs. Prency.  “Ah, is the shoe done, entirely done?  Good.  Very much obliged.  It’s quite as good as Mr. Highgetty himself could have made it.  Fifty cents, I believe?  Is that satisfactory?”

“Quite satisfact’ry, ma’am,” said the substitute, as he rose from his bench and removed his hat, which had been on his head during the interview.  Mrs. Prency started towards the door, but stopped suddenly and turned back.

“Mr. Kimper, the young man, Mr. Bartram, of whom I spoke to you,—­I really believe he is inclined to come and talk to you, and perhaps talk a great deal, about what you seem to believe very sincerely and what he doesn’t believe at all.  I hope you won’t change your mind through anything that can be said to you by a person of that kind, or by any person whatever?”

“Mrs. Prency,” said the cobbler’s substitute, taking his hat from the bench on which he had placed it and circling it in his hand as if he were endeavoring to stimulate his mental faculties, “whatever I believe on that subject I’m goin’ to stick to, an’ nobody, not even if he is the best lawyer in the county, or your husband himself, or the judge of the biggest court in the United States, is goin’ to change my mind about it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Kimper.  I might have known as much from what I heard during your remarks the other night.  I only wanted to say to you that Mr. Bartram is a very smart talker and very quick to see whatever mistakes any one else may make.”

“If I make any mistakes,” said Sam, “it’s because of somebody who’s a great deal smarter than I am, who don’t back me up as much as I need for the time-bein’.”

“Good-day, Mr Kimper,” said the lady.

“Good-day, ma’am,” said the ex-convict.