ould not
attract her attention, but her quick ear had caught the sound, and,
rising, she advanced towards the door, her hands extended before her.

"Is that you, Uncle Ike?" she asked in a clear, sweet voice. "I heard
you drive in."

She had started in a straight line towards the door, but for some cause,
perhaps the bright light coming from the wood fire in the open
fireplace, she swerved in her course and would have walked directly
towards the blazing wood had not Quincy rushed forward, caught her by
the hand and stopped her further progress, saying as he did so, "Miss
Pettengill, you will set your dress on fire."

"You are not Uncle Ike," said she, quickly. "He could not walk as fast
as that. Who are you? You must know me, for you called me by name."

Quincy replied, "Under the circumstances, Miss Pettengill, I see no way
but to introduce myself. I am your brother's boarder, and my name is
Sawyer."

"I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Sawyer," said she, extending her hand,
which Quincy took. "I feel acquainted with you already, for Uncle Ike
speaks of you very often, and 'Zekiel said you used to board at Deacon
Mason's. Don't you think Huldy is a lovely girl?"

Quincy avoided this direct question and replied, "Uncle Ike has been
equally kind in speaking of his niece, Miss Pettengill, so that I feel
acquainted with her even without this,--I was going to say formal
introduction,--but I think that we must both confess it was rather
informal."

Alice laughed merrily. "Won't you sit down, Mr. Sawyer? I have been
alone nearly all day, and have really been very lonesome."

She turned and groped, as if feeling for a chair. Quincy sprang forward,
placed a large rocking chair before the fire, then, taking her hand, saw
her safely ensconced in it. He then took a seat in a large armchair at
the end of the fireplace nearest the door.

"Thank you, Mr. Sawyer," said Alice. "Everybody has been so kind to me
since I have had this trouble with my eyes. Of course 'Zekiel has told
you about it."

"Yes," assented Quincy.

He really did not care to talk. He was satisfied to sit and look at her,
and he could do this with impunity, for she could not see his earnest
gaze fixed upon her.

"I have been used to an active life," said Alice. "I have had my
business to attend to every day, and evenings I had my books, papers,
pictures, and music. At first it seemed so hard to be shut out from them
all, but years ago Uncle Ike taught me