"All ready," said he to Hiram, who was patting Swiss's head, and off
they started.

Again Mandy went to the window and watched the progress of the
travellers. Mrs. Crowley came into the kitchen and seeing Mandy at the
window quietly turned out a mug of the hot cider and drank it. She then
approached Mandy and said, "What was all the laughin' about? I like a
good joke myself."

Mandy said, "Oh, he was telling me about a girl that invited all her
fellers to come and see her the same evening, and only one of them got
there because he greased the log over the mill race, and all the rest of
them fell into the water."

"It was a mane trick," said Mrs. Crowley. "Now, when all the boys were
after me, for I was a good lookin' girl once, Pat Crowley, he was me
husband, had a fight on hand every night for a fortnight and all on
account of me; and they do say there were never so many heads broken in
the County of Tipperary on account of one girl since the days of St.
Patrick."

Mandy had paid but little attention to Mrs. Crowley's speech. She was
too busy watching the travellers. Mrs. Crowley filled and emptied the
mug once more.

The last potation was too much for her equilibrium, and forgetting the
step that led from the kitchen to the side room, she lost her balance
and fell prone upon the floor. Her loud cries obliged Mandy to turn from
the window, but not until she had seen that the travellers had reached
the fence before Deacon Mason's house, and she knew they were safe for
the present. Mrs. Crowley was lifted to her feet by Mandy. The old woman
declared that she was "kilt intirely," but Mandy soon learned the cause
of the accident, and returning to the kitchen closed the door and
continued her morning duties.

Before Ezekiel left the house he had interrupted Quincy's meditations by
knocking on his door, and when admitted told him that he had had a
letter from Huldy.

"She is kind of lonesome," he said, "and wants me to come over to see
her."

"But it is a terrible storm," said Quincy, looking out of the window.

"Oh," said Ezekiel, "we'll be all right! Hiram is going with me, and we
are going to take Swiss along with us. Now, Mr. Sawyer, I am going to
ask you to do me and Alice a favor. Uncle Ike is upstairs busy reading,
and if you will kinder look out for Alice till I get back I shall be
greatly obliged."

Quincy promised and Ezekiel departed.

Quincy thought the fates had favored him in imposing upon him