onor," said Quincy, "my time and services
are at your disposal."

"That's what I told Huldy," said 'Zekiel, "but she was afraid that you
would be vexed at what the gossips said about you and her; she's mad as
a hornet herself, and she wants to teach them a lesson."

"Personally," said Quincy, "I don't care what the gossips say, but I was
both sorry and indignant that they should have referred to Miss Mason in
the way they did."

"Well," said 'Zekiel, "we have hatched up a sort of a plot, and if you
will help us, all three of us will have some fun out of it."

"Well," inquired Quincy, "what's my share in the fun?"

"It's this," said 'Zekiel, "you know you used to take Huldy out to ride
with you. To help out our plan, would you be willing to do it again?"

"Certainly," replied Quincy. "Miss Mason has been confined to her room
so long I think she ought to have some fresh air."

"That's true," remarked 'Zekiel; "she's lost considerable flesh staying
in so long; but if I took her out to ride they would jump at conclusions
right off and say Huldy and 'Zekiel have made up, and they will guess
we are going to make a match of it. Then, again," 'Zekiel continued,
"Huldy says she's bound to have it out with the one that started the
stories. There's no use mincing matters between us, because you know as
well as I do who is at the bottom of all this tittle-tattle. Since I
refused to join hands with him to try and drive you out of town, he has
talked about me almost as bad as he has about you. 'So,' says Huldy to
me, 'you know he is the only teacher of music in Eastborough. I want to
take music lessons very much, and so I have got to have him for
teacher.' Then she said, ''Zekiel, you leave the rest of it to me, and
we will all have some fun before we get through.' I expect she is going
to flirt with him, for it comes as nat'ral to her as it does to most
women."

Quincy did not think it polite to assent to this last remark and changed
the subject by remarking, "This is a beautiful day. I am going to drive
the nurse over to Eastborough; perhaps Miss Mason would like to
accompany us. That is, if you can trust her with me."

"Oh, that's all right," said 'Zekiel; "Huldy had to pay pretty dearly
for getting mad at the wrong time. Besides, I don't think she will want
to drive horse again for a while."

Mandy rapped on the parlor door and called out that the team was ready.

Quincy assured 'Zekiel that he understood his part and