along very comfortably by himself. I argued on the other side. I wish to
hear the voices of my friends when they talk and sing and read, and
then, you know, everybody lends a helping hand to a person who is blind,
but the deaf person must look out for himself."

"Either state is to be regretted, if there is no hope of relief,"
remarked Quincy. He thought he would refer to Dr. Tillotson, but they
were approaching the centre of the town, and he knew he would not have
time to explain his action before he reached the post office, so he
determined to postpone it until they were on the way home.

There were three letters for himself, two for Alice and a lot of papers
and magazines for Uncle Ike. He resumed his seat in the sleigh and they
started on their journey homeward.

"Would you like to go back the same way that we came?" asked Quincy, "or
shall we go by the upper road and come by Deacon Mason's?"

"I should like to stop and see Huldy," said Alice, and Quincy took the
upper road.

Conversation lagged on the homeward trip. Alice held her two letters in
her hand and looked at them several times, apparently trying to
recognize the handwriting. As Quincy glanced at her sidewise, he felt
sure that he saw tears in her eyes, and he decided that it would be an
inappropriate time to announce the subject of the new doctor. In fact,
he was beginning to think, the more his mind dwelt upon the subject,
that he had taken an inexcusable liberty in arranging for Dr. Tillotson
to come down without first speaking to her, or at least to her brother
or uncle. But the deed was done, and he must find some way to have her
see the doctor, and get his opinion about her eyes.

Quincy spent so much time revolving this matter in his mind, that he was
quite astonished when he looked around and found himself at the exact
place where he spoke those words to Huldy Mason that had ended in the
accident. This time he gave careful attention to horse and hill and
curve, and a moment later he drew up the sleigh at Deacon Mason's front
gate.

Mrs. Mason welcomed them at the door and they were shown into the
parlor, where Huldy sat at the piano. The young girls greeted each other
warmly, and Mrs. Mason and Huldy both wished Quincy and Alice to stay to
tea. They declined, saying they had many letters to read before supper
and 'Zekiel would think something had happened to them if they did not
come home.

"I will send Hiram down to let them know," said