y, taking out
his watch.

"In just twenty minutes," Waters replied, looking up at the clock.

"I will be back from Boston at the earliest possible moment," said
Quincy; and before the astonished Waters could recover himself, the
young man had left the room.

Quincy jumped into the team, grasped the reins, and started off at full
speed for Eastborough Centre.

"My uncle died this morning," said he, turning to Huldy, "I must go to
Boston at once to make the necessary arrangements for his funeral He is
to be buried at Amesbury with his wife and children, so please get word
to Mr. Pettengill that I shall not be home for several days. I will get
some one at the hotel to drive you home, Miss Mason. Only stern
necessity compels me to leave you in this way."

"You will do nothing of the sort," said Huldy. "I am perfectly confident
that I am able to drive this team home all by myself."

"I never can consent to it," said Quincy. "If anything happened to you,
your father and--" Huldy glanced at him. "I mean," said Quincy, "I
should never forgive myself, and your father would never forgive me.
Your arm is still weak, I know."

"My arm is just as good as ever," said Huldy. "The doctor told me it
wouldn't break in that place again. Besides, Mr. Sawyer," she said, as
the hotel came in sight, "I shall drive back just the same way we came,
and there are no hills or sharp corners, you know." She laughed heartily
and added, "I shall enjoy it very much, it is part of the comedy."

"Well," said Quincy in an undertone, "rebellious young woman, do as you
will, and bear the consequences. I will turn the team around so that you
won't have any trouble, and Hiram can take it down to Mr. Pettengill's
and deliver my message. Good-by," and he shook hands with her.

"We will get out here, Miss Miller," said he, and he helped the nurse to
alight. Grasping the heavy valise, he started at a brisk pace for the
station, and Miss Miller was obliged to run in order to keep up with
him. They boarded the train and took their seats. The train was ahead of
time and waited for a few minutes at the station.

Quincy did not know as he sped towards Boston on his sad errand that
Miss Lindy Putnam was in the second car behind him, bound to the same
place. Nor did he know for several days that Abner Stiles, who drove her
to the station, had seen Huldy driving towards Mason's Corner. Nor did
he know that Strout had told Abner of his seeing Huldy and Sawyer