together. Nor did he know that Abner whipped up his horse in a vain
attempt to overtake Huldy on her return to Mason's Corner. She, too, had
whipped up her horse and had reached home, and was in the house, calling
for Hiram, just as Abner turned into the square by Hill's grocery.

Quincy made the necessary purchases, and with the city, undertaker
returned to Eastborough Centre by the noon train. The body was placed in
a leaden casket and Quincy and the undertaker with their sad burden
returned to Boston by the five o'clock express.

His mother and sisters were still in New York, but he passed the evening
with his father, who approved of all he had done and what he proposed
doing.

Quincy went to Amesbury and purchased a small lot in the cemetery. After
a day's search he discovered the place of burial of his uncle's wife and
children. They were disinterred, and the four bodies were placed in the
little lot.

On his return to Boston he made arrangements for two plain marble stones
for his uncle and aunt, and two smaller ones for his little cousins,
whom he had never seen.

The directions that he left with the monument maker and the undertaker
at Amesbury were followed to the letter. If one should pass by that
little lot he would see on one marble slab these words:

Eunice Raymond Sawyer,
Aged 29 yrs., 6 mos.

On the little slab at her feet the simple words:

Mary, Aged 4 yrs., 2 mos.

At its side another little stone bearing only these words:

Ray, Aged 6 yrs., 8 mos.

Adhering strictly to his uncle's request, the other large stone bore no
name, but on it were engraved these words:

In Heaven we Know our Own.

CHAPTER XX.

A WET DAY.

When Quincy alighted from the train at Eastborough Centre, after
attending his uncle's funeral, he found the rain descending in torrents.
He hired a closed carriage and was driven to Mason's Corner, arriving
there about ten o'clock. He had taken his breakfast in Boston.

When he reached the Pettengill house he saw Hiram standing at the barn
door. Bidding the driver stop, he got out and paid his score; he then
took Hiram by the arm and led him into the barn. When he had primed the
latter with a good cigar, he said, "Now, Hiram, I've been away several
days and I want to know what has been going on. You know our agreement
was that you should tell me the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I
don't want you to spare my feelings nor anybody else