The daily routine of the office (he had no assistant but the callow Hopkins) was more exacting than laborious, but it kept him confined seven hours in the twenty-four.  Still, there was time in the lengthened days as the year advanced for walking, rowing, and riding or driving about the picturesque country which surrounds Homeville.  He and Mr. Harum often drove together after the bank closed, or after “tea,” and it was a pleasure in itself to observe David’s dexterous handling of his horses, and his content and satisfaction in the enjoyment of his favorite pastime.  In pursuit of business he “jogged ’round,” as he said, behind the faithful Jinny, but when on pleasure bent, a pair of satin-coated trotters drew him in the latest and “slickest” model of top-buggies.

“Of course,” he said, “I’d ruther ride all alone than not to ride at all, but the’s twice as much fun in’t when you’ve got somebody along.  I ain’t much of a talker, unless I happen to git started” (at which assertion John repressed a smile), “but once in a while I like to have somebody to say somethin’ to.  You like to come along, don’t ye?”

“Very much indeed.”

“I used to git Polly to come once in a while,” said David, “but it wa’n’t no pleasure to her.  She hadn’t never ben used to hosses an’ alwus set on the edge of the seat ready to jump, an’ if one o’ the critters capered a little she’d want to git right out then an’ there.  I reckon she never went out but what she thanked mercy when she struck the hoss block to git back with hull bones.”

“I shouldn’t have thought that she would have been nervous with the reins in your hands,” said John.

“Wa’al,” replied David, “the last time she come along somethin’ give the team a little scare an’ she reached over an’ made a grab at the lines.  That,” he remarked with a grin, “was quite a good while ago.  I says to her when we got home, ’I guess after this you’d better take your airin’s on a stun-boat.  You won’t be so liable to git run away with an’ throwed out,’ I says.”

John laughed a little, but made no comment.

“After all,” said David, “I dunno ‘s I blamed her fer bein’ skittish, but I couldn’t have her grabbin’ the lines.  It’s curi’s,” he reflected, “I didn’t used to mind what I rode behind, nor who done the drivin’, but I’d have to admit that as I git older I prefer to do it myself, I ride ev’ry once in a while with fellers that c’n drive as well, an’ mebbe better, ‘n I can, an’ I know it, but if anythin’ turns up, or looks like it, I can’t help wishin’ ‘t I had holt o’ the lines myself.”

The two passed a good many hours together thus beguiling the time.  Whatever David’s other merits as a companion, he was not exacting of response when engaged in conversation, and rarely made any demands upon his auditor.

* * * * *

During that first year John made few additions to his social acquaintance, and if in the summer the sight of a gay party of young people caused some stirrings in his breast, they were not strong enough to induce him to make any attempts toward the acquaintance which he might have formed.  He was often conscious of glances of curiosity directed toward himself, and Mr. Euston was asked a good many questions about the latest addition to his congregation.