was out the front door, helped into
the team, and they were off just as the startled matron reached the
parlor window. Mrs. Mason returned to the kitchen and at that moment the
Deacon came in from the barn.

"What's the matter, mother?" asked the Deacon, noticing her excited and
somewhat troubled look.

"Huldy is gone out riding again with Mr. Sawyer," said she.

The Deacon was a good Christian man and didn't swear, but he was
evidently thinking deeply. Finally he said, "Well, mother, we must make
the best of it. I'll help him find a boarding place if he don't get one
by to-morrow."

They had a splendid drive. The air was cool, but not biting, the sun was
warm, the roads had dried up since the recent thaw, which had removed
the snow, with the exception of some patches in the fields, and the
high-topped buggy rolled smoothly over the ground.

They passed through the little square in front of Hill's grocery, and as
luck would have it, Professor Strout was standing on the platform
smoking a cigar. Huldy smiled and nodded to him, and Quincy, with true
politeness, followed a city custom and raised his hat, but the Professor
did not return the bow, nor the salute, but turning on his heel walked
into the grocery store.

"Professor Strout is not very polite, is he, Mr. Sawyer?" asked Huldy,
laughing.

Quincy replied, looking straight ahead, "He has never learned the first
letter in the alphabet of the art."

Quincy had a disagreeable duty to perform. He enjoyed Miss Huldy's
company, but she was not the sort of girl he could love enough to make
his wife. Then the thought came to him, supposing she should fall in
love with him; that was not impossible, and it must be prevented.

When they were about half a mile from Mason's Corner, on their way home,
Quincy realized that he could not put the matter off any longer.

Just as he was going to speak to her she turned to him and said, "Let me
drive the rest of the way home, Mr. Sawyer."

"Oh, no," replied Quincy, "I think I had better keep the reins. You know
I am responsible for you until you are safe at home."

Huldy pouted. "You think I can't drive," said she, "I have driven horses
all my life. Please let me, Mr. Sawyer," she added coaxingly. And she
took the reins from his hands.

"Well," said Quincy, "you are now responsible for me and I shall expect
you to be very careful."

They drove a short distance in silence; then Quincy turned to her and
said abruptly, "T