esday without hearing an
unpleasant word from Mrs. Royden, wished to go home that morning; and
after breakfast James carried her over in the wagon. Willie went too;
and the little fellow, overjoyed at his mother's indulgence, took great
delight in listening to the birds, in looking at the sparkling leaves
and grass, and in watching the wheels as they cut through the puddles
and furrowed the softened sand of the road.

All the family went to meeting, except Hepsy, Mrs. Royden and the baby.
Sam rode behind on an extra seat,--a board placed across the
wagon-box,--and fell off twice, without doing material injury to his
person; after which trifling accidents he became cautious how he
suffered his devotion to fun to send him wheeling over backwards when
the horses started suddenly. Chester and James, who walked, witnessed
one of his falls, as the wagon passed them on the road. They thought
Sam's neck was broken, and ran to pick him up; but, after brushing the
moist sand from his clothes, and getting him in the wagon again, they
found that he was about as good as new.

In the afternoon, Mr. Kerchey took pains once more to invite Chester to
ride with him; and, in no way discouraged by his painful deficiency in
the brilliant graces of conversation manifested on a former occasion,
readily consented to gratify the family with his presence at supper.

Mrs. Royden was pleased with Mr. Kerchey's condescension. Her fears that
he might have taken offense at Sarah's freedom were happily dissipated;
and, speaking with the latter aside, she told her, in a kind and
motherly tone, that "she sincerely hoped she would treat their neighbor
well."

Mr. Kerchey took them by surprise. He made some strikingly original and
sensible remarks, without any of his ordinary hesitation. At the table
he expressed some sentiments with regard to children which were quite
refreshing, and his description of the storm on the previous day was
rather picturesque.

But no shrewd observer, like Sarah, could fail to see that his language
was studied and elaborate.

"He has got a little handful of speeches by heart," she whispered to
Chester. "He will use them all up soon,--_then_ we'll see if he can
talk!"

She was confirmed in her suspicions when, questioning some ideas he
advanced, she found him utterly unable to answer her in the same easy
strain as before. To excuse himself, he, with great difficulty,
confessed that those thoughts had been forming them