But he rallied presently.
"Wal, I b'lieve they do for some mares, when they let 'em to some folks; but this here ain't one o' them mares, and you ain't one o' them folks.
All my cattle's out but this critter, 'n' I don't jestly want to have nobody drive her that ain't pretty car'ful,--she's faast, I tell ye,--don't want no whip .-- How fur d' d y' want t' go ?" Mr.Gridley was quite serious now, and let the man know that he wanted the mare and a light covered wagon, at once, to be gone for one or two days, and would waive the question of sex in the matter of payment.
Alderbank was about twenty miles down the river by the road.

On arriving there, he inquired for the house where a Mr.Lindsay lived.

There was only one Lindsay family in town,--he must mean Dr.William Lindsay.

His house was up there a little way above the village, lying a few rods back from the river.
He found the house without difficulty, and knocked at the door.

A motherly-looking woman opened it immediately, and held her hand up as if to ask him to speak and move softly.
"Does Mr.Clement Lindsay live here ?" "He is staying here for the present.