"
Raising his stalwart figure to its full height, and squaring his
shoulders as if to draw courage from a consciousness of his thews and
sinews, Laban strode toward the store. But though he took the first
steps strongly and firmly, his pace grew feebler and more hesitating
as he neared the group of gentlemen, and his courage might have ebbed
entirely, had not the parson, glancing around and catching his eye,
given him a friendly nod. Laban thereupon came up to within a rod or
two of the group, and taking off his cap, said in a small voice:
"Please we'd like ter know what the convenshin has did?"
Sedgwick, who had his back to him, turned quickly, and seeing Laban,
said in a preemptory tone:
"Ah! Laban, you may tell your friends that the convention very wisely
did nothing at all," and as he said this he turned to finish something
that he was saying to Squire Woodbridge. Laban's jaw fell, and he
continued to stand stock still for several moments, his dull features
working as he tried to take in the idea. Finally, his consternation
absorbing his timidity he said feebly:
"Nothin? Did you say, Squire?"
Sedgwick wheeled about with a frown, which however, changed into an
expression of contemptuous pity as he saw the genuineness of the poor
fellow's discomfiture.
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