mething."

Outside of the brick wall she paused and opened the box. It was empty.

"I thought so!" she said.

"Why, ye've brought the box 'thout the letters, Phoebe," said Rebecca.
"You're not agoin' back for them, air ye?"

"No," Phoebe replied, "'twouldn't do any good. Rebecca. They aren't
there."

She dropped the box in the grass and looked wistfully about her.

"Not there!" said Rebecca, nonplussed. "Why, who'd take 'em?"

"Nobody. They haven't been written yet."

"Not--not--" Rebecca gasped for a moment and then hurried toward the
road. "Come on!" she cried.

Surely, she thought--surely they must find a doctor without delay.

But before they reached the road, Rebecca was glad to pause again and
take advantage of a friendly bush from whose cover she might gaze
without being herself observed.

The broad highway which but so short a time ago was quite deserted, was
now occupied by a double line of bustling people--young and old--men,
women, and children. Those travelling toward their left, to the north,
were principally men and boys, although now and then a pair of
loud-voiced girls passed northward with male companions. Those who were
travelling southward were the younger ones, and often whole families
together. Among these the women predominated.

All of these people were laughing--calling rough jokes back and
forth--singing, running, jumping, and dancing, till the whole roadway
appeared a merry Bedlam.

"Must be a county fair near here!" exclaimed Rebecca. "But will ye
listen to the gibberish an' see their clothes!"

Indeed, the language and the costumes were most perplexing to good New
England ears and eyes, and Rebecca knew not whether to advance or to
retreat.

The women all wore very wide and rather short skirts, the petticoat worn
exposed up to where a full over-skirt or flounce gave emphasis to their
hips. The elder ones wore long-sleeved jackets and high-crowned hats,
while the young ones wore what looked like low-necked jerseys tied
together in front and their braided hair hung from uncovered crowns.

The men wore short breeches, some full trunk hose, some tighter but
puffed; their jackets were of many fashions, from the long-skirted open
coats of the elders to the smart doublets or shirts of the young men.

The children were dressed like the adults, and most of them wore wreaths
and garlands of flowers, while in the hands of many were baskets full of
posies.

Phoebe gazed from her si