To my amazement he was not angry. Instead he slapped his knee and
laughed aloud.

"Ho! ho!" he shouted. "Humph! Well, that was. . . . I'd like to have
seen his face when he got that message. No, that young man won't do. He
won't do at all."

It was not for me to dispute this conclusion, even if I had disagreed
with him, which I did not. I said nothing. He rubbed his knee for a
moment and then changed the subject.

"How did you happen to be on the Lower Road at that time of the night?"
he asked. "I'm mighty glad you were there, of course, but where did you
come from?"

"I left the festival rather late and--"

"Festival? Oh, that thing up at the church. I didn't see you there."

I had taken pains that he should not see me.

"Do you mean to tell me," he continued, "that you enjoy a thing like
that? What in blazes made Mabel want to go I don't see! She and Carver
were set on going; and it would be the treat of a lifetime, or words to
that effect. I can't see it myself. Of all the wooden headed jays I ever
laid eyes on this town holds the finest collection. Narrow and stubborn
and blind to their own interests!"

This was more like what I expected from him and I resented it. It may
seem odd that I, of all persons, should have taken upon myself the
defense of Denboro and its inhabitants, but that is what I did.

"They are no more narrow and stubborn in their way than city people are
in theirs," I declared. "They resent being ordered about as if their
opinions and wishes counted for nothing, and I honor them for it."

"Do, hey?"

"Yes, I do. Mr. Colton, I tell you that you are all wrong. Simply
because a man lives in the country it does not follow that he is a
blockhead. No one in Denboro is rich, as you would count riches, but
plenty of them are independent and ask no help from any one. You can't
drive them."

"Can't I?"

"No, you can't. And if you want favors from men here you must ask for
them, not try to bully."

"I don't want favors. I want to be treated decently, that's all. When
I came here I intended doing things to help the town. I should have
enjoyed doing it. I told some of them so. Look at the money I've spent.
Look at the taxes I'll pay. Why, they ought to be glad to have me here.
They ought to welcome me."

"So they would if you had not behaved as if you were what some of them
call you--'Emperor of New York'. I tell you, Mr. Colton, you're all
wrong. I know the people here."

"So? Well, f