"Are you going now?" asked Mrs. Bolton, coming to the door, as Ben
led up the horse.

"Yes. I wish to be home early, and so must start early."

And Bolton sprang into the saddle.

But for the presence of his wife, it is more than probable that he
would have quietly directed Ben to go and rehang the gate, and thus
re-establish Mr. Halpin's right of way through his premises. But,
this would have been an exposure of himself to his better-half that
he had not the courage to make. So he rode away. His purpose was to
visit the city, which was three miles distant, on business. As he
moved along in the direction of the gate through which he was to
pass on his way to the turnpike, he had to go very near the spot
where Ben had been at work in the morning. The unhinged gate lay
upon the ground where, according to his directions, it had been
thrown; and the place it formerly occupied was closed up by four
strong bars, firmly attached to the posts.

Mr. Bolton didn't like the looks of this at all. But it was done;
and he was not the man to look back when he had once undertaken to
do a thing.

As he was riding along, just after passing from his grounds, he met
Mr. Dix, who paused as Bolton came up.

"Well, neighbour," said the former in a tone of mild persuasion, "I
hope you have thought better of the matter about which we were