"Who do you think has enlisted?"

"I do not choose to guess," said his father coldly. "If you feel
disposed to tell me, you may do so.

John looked somewhat offended at his father's tone, but he was
anxious to tell the news. "Frost's going to enlist," he said
shortly.

"Indeed!" said the squire, with interest. "How did you hear?"

"I heard him say so himself, just now, in the store."

"I expected it," said Squire Haynes, with a sneer. "I understood
his motives perfectly in urging the town to pay an enormous
bounty to volunteers. He meant to line his own pockets at the
public expense."

"He says that he doesn't mean to accept the bounty," continued
John, in a tone which indicated a doubt whether Mr. Frost was in
earnest.

"Did you hear him say that?" asked Squire Haynes abruptly.

"Yes. I heard him say so to Mr. Morse."

"Perhaps he means it, and perhaps he doesn't. If he don't take
it, it is because he is afraid of public opinion. What's he going
to do about the farm, while he is gone?"