take him right, is not an unreasonable man. He'll do almost any
thing to oblige another. But he is very stubborn if you attempt to
drive him. If he comes home and finds things as they now are, he
will feel dreadfully outraged; and you will become enemies instead
of friends."

"It can't be helped now," said Mr. Bolton. "What's done is done."

"It's not yet too late to undo the work," suggested Mr. Dix.

"Yes, it is. I'm not the man to make back-tracks. Good-day, Mr.
Dix?"

And speaking to his horse, Mr. Bolton started off at a brisk trot.
He did not feel very comfortable. How could he? He felt that he had
done wrong, and that trouble and mortification were before him. But
a stubborn pride would not let him retrace a few wrong steps taken
from a wrong impulse. To the city he went, transacted his business,
and then turned his face homeward, with a heavy pressure upon his
feelings.

"Ah me!" he sighed to himself, as he rode along. "I wish I had
thought twice this morning before I acted once. I needn't have been
so precipitate. But I was provoked to think that any one claimed the
right to make a public road through my farm. If I'd only known that
Halpin was a brother-in-law to Judge Caldwell! That makes the matter
so much worse."

And on rode Mr. Bolton, thinking only of the trouble he had so
needlessly pulled down about his ears.