Hitting middle pair as the pre-flop aggressor against one opponent

Hi Nick,

I could use some help playing hands when I hit middle pair and I am the pre-flop aggressor. Was it correct for me to call the villain's post-flop check raise? This was my first hand at the table so I knew nothing about his playing tendencies. Sometimes I think I should play a little less aggressively when I first sit down at the table until I get some sense for other players' tendencies. I wonder whether a better play would have been to either fold to his check raise or to re-raise. I guess my primary question is whether re-raising the villain would have convinced him that I had a strong ace. My gut told me that he was raising me with an ace with a weak kicker considering that pre-flop he had initially limped into the pot from the hijack.

thanks for your help,

Barry