ner post office the
letters were stuck upon a rack, where every one could see them, and
Quincy did not care to have the loungers at Hill's grocery inspecting
his correspondence.

Uncle Ike saw the look and understood it. Then he said, "'Zekiel brought
these over from Eastborough Centre. He didn't want to, but the
postmaster said one of them was marked 'In haste,' and he had been over
to the hotel and found that you had gone to Mason's Corner, and probably
wouldn't be back to-day, and so he thought 'Zekiel better bring it
over."

"It was very kind of Mr. Pettengill," said Quincy, "and I wish you would
thank him for me."

In the meantime he had glanced at his letters. One bore, printed in the
corner, the names, Sawyer, Crowninshield, & Lawrence, Counsellors at
Law, Court Street, Boston, Mass. That was from his father. The other was
directed in a feminine hand and bore the postmark, Mason's Corner, Mass.
He could not imagine from whom it could be.

"I have had a talk with 'Zekiel," said Uncle Ike, "and the whole matter
is satisfactorily arranged; he is a fair-minded young fellow and he
don't believe you have done anything with the intention of injuring him.
What did you pay up to Deacon Mason's?"

"Five dollars a week," replied Quincy.

"Well, it will be the same here," said Uncle Ike. "You can stay as long
as you like. 'Zeke wouldn't charge you anything, but I said no, you have
got to look out for your sister, and Mr. Sawyer can afford to pay."

Quincy broke in, "And I wouldn't stay unless I did pay. I am able and
willing to pay more, if he will take it."

"Not a cent more," said Uncle Ike. "He will give you your money's worth,
and then one won't owe the other anything. When you come down to supper
I'll introduce you, just as if you had never seen each other, and you
can both take a fresh start."

Uncle Ike arose. "By the time you have read your letters supper will be
ready, and I want to go in and have a talk with Alice. She is my only
niece, Mr. Sawyer, and I think she is the finest girl in Massachusetts,
and, as far as I know, there ain't any better one in the whole world;"
and Uncle Ike went out, closing the door behind him.

Quincy resumed his seat by the window. The light had faded considerably,
but he could still see to read. Naturally enough he first opened the
letter bearing the feminine handwriting. He looked at the signature
first of all and read "Lucinda Putnam." "What can she have to write to
me