and shall be obliged to go right by it, so if
you will walk by my side, or take my arm, I will leave you at their
office door."

"Thank you," replied May, as with a feeling of safety she laid her
little hand on the fatherly arm, so kindly offered. Some ten minutes'
walk brought them to the office of Carter & Co., and while May stood an
instant, with her veil lifted, to thank her conductor, she saw a face
approaching through the crowd--then lost, then visible again, which
blanched her cheeks by its sudden appearance. The cold, stern eyes
were turned another way, yet she _felt_ that they had recognized her;
but it passed on, without seeming to notice her. "Uncle Stillinghast!"
thought May, while her little fluttering heart felt an icy chill pass
over it; "what will Uncle Stillinghast think? Oh, how stupid I was,
not to wait until they all got by, then look for the place myself. Oh
dear, dear! I hope he did not see me."

"What will you have, ma'am?" asked the clerk, coming forward, more
anxious to shut out the cold air from his comfortable snuggery than to
effect sales.

"I wish to purchase a quarter of a cord of wood, sir."

"Oak, hickory, or pine, ma'am?"

"Oak, if you please."

"It is just now six and a half per cord," insinuated the clerk.

"Yes, sir; here is the money. Can you send the wood with me at once?"

"If you can wait until it is carted, ma'am, certainly," replied the
young man, taking the half-eagle she offered him, and returning the
change.

"I will wait, and you will oblige me by sending a sawyer also."

The young man went out to give the necessary orders, and in a little
while a sawyer made his appearance at the door, and announced that "all
was ready, if anyone would be after telling them where to go."

"You will follow this lady, Dennis," said the indefatigable clerk,
pointing to May.

"Where to, ma'am?" inquired Dennis.

"To the north-western section of the city. I shall stop at one or two
stores in Howard Street, but you can go on slowly, and I will overtake
you." May then made a few inquiries of the young man ere she bade him
good morning, and went away, glad to escape from a portion of the city
where she was such an utter stranger, and whose intricate, narrow
streets, filled her with apprehension. When they came to Howard
Street, May stepped into a shoe-store, and purchased a pair of warm
carpet-shoes, nicely wadded inside; then flitted out, and ran into a
drygoods emporium