you were in love with him, or
thought any more about him than you would have of any passing
acquaintance."

"I am so glad," cried Huldy; "you have done me more good than the
doctor, 'Zekiel;" and she dropped her head upon his shoulder.

'Zekiel was struck with an idea, "If I am a better doctor than the other
one, Huldy, I ought to get a bigger price for my services than he does."

Huldy looked up. "What will your price be, Dr. Pettengill?"

"I think I shall charge," said 'Zekiel, "one hundred thousand dollars,
and as I know you haven't got the money and can't raise it, I think I
shall have to hold you for security."

He suited the action to the word, and they sat there so long, happy in
their mutual love, that the Deacon and his wife came upstairs and
entered the room quietly. When they saw the picture before them, thrown
into prominence by the light of the fire, the Deacon said in a low tone
to his wife, "I have thought so all along."

And as Mrs. Mason looked up into her husband's face she said, "I am glad
on't."

CHAPTER XIX.

JIM SAWYER'S FUNERAL.

Quincy obeyed the call to supper with alacrity. Possibly he thought he
would be the first one at the table, but Cobb's twins were in their
places when he entered the room. 'Zekiel came in next, and Quincy's
quick eye discerned that there was a look of quiet contentment on his
face which had not been there before.

Uncle Ike came down with Alice, and for the first time since her arrival
she sat beside Quincy. For some reason or other the conversation lagged.
Quincy surmised that 'Zekiel was too happy with his own thoughts to wish
to talk, and Uncle Ike rarely conversed during meal time. He said he
could not talk and eat at the same time, and as meal time was for eating
he proposed to give his attention to that exclusively.

Quincy ventured a few commonplace remarks to Alice, to which she replied
pleasantly. He was at a loss for a topic, when he remembered his last
visit to Mrs. Putnam's and recalled his promise to bring Alice to see
her some day.

He spoke of visiting Mrs. Putnam, and Alice's face immediately shone
with pleasure. "Dear old Aunt Heppy! I must go and see her as soon as I
can."

"If you can find no better escort than myself, I trust you will command
my services, unless," said Quincy, "your brother thinks it unsafe to
trust you with me."

"He won't be likely to let you drive, Alice," responded 'Zekiel dryly,
"so I don't think there