the side of the team, evidently uncertain which seat to
take. Quincy was quickly at her side.

"You can sit in here, Miss Miller," said Quincy, pointing to one of the
rear seats; and when she was seated Quincy told Hiram to put the valise
on the seat beside her. He had no idea of having Huldy take a back seat.

True to her promise, Huldy made her toilet in the appointed time, and
taking her seat beside Quincy, he took up the reins. Turning to Hiram he
asked, "If I drive by Hill's grocery and take the road to the left, will
it bring me round to the main road to Eastborough Centre again?"

"Yaas," said Hiram, "you take the road where Mis' Hawkins's boardin'
house is on the corner. You remember that big yellow house. You know I
told you Mandy's mother kept it."

"All right," said Quincy, and off they went.

Quincy gave a side glance at Huldy. He discovered she was throwing a
side glance at him. They both smiled, but said nothing. He drove around
the big tree that stood in the centre of the square in front of the
grocery, which brought the team quite close to the store platform. No
one was in sight, but just as he reached Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house
the door opened and Obadiah Strout came out. Huldy placed her hand on
Quincy's arm.

"Please hold up a minute, Mr. Sawyer."

Quincy brought the horse to a standstill with a jerk and looked straight
ahead.

"Ah, good morning, Mr. Strout," said Huldy. "Did you get the letter I
sent up by Hiram last evening about my taking music lessons?"

"Yes," said Mr. Strout, "and I was coming down this morning to settle on
the best time for you taking them."

"Could you come to-morrow afternoon from two to three?" asked Huldy.

Strout took a well-worn memorandum book from his pocket and consulted
it. "Three to four would be the best I could do," said he, "for I have a
lesson from half-past one to half-past two."

"That will do just as well," replied Huldy. "Three to four to-morrow
afternoon. Isn't this a beautiful day, Mr. Strout? I am taking a little
drive for my health;" and she nodded smilingly to Strout, who had
recognized Quincy as her companion.

"That's all, Mr. Sawyer," said Huldy, and they drove on.

"By thunder," said Strout, "they say the hair of a dog is good for his
bite. Just as soon as she got well, off she goes riding again with the
same feller who tipped the team over and broke her arm. I guess 'Zeke
Pettengill's chances ain't worth much now. It beats all ho