gill's room.

Looking into the entry he saw 'Zekiel, who cried out, "Say, you folks,
have you forgotten that you have been invited out to tea this evening,
and that we are going to give a surprise party to Mr. Strout and his
friends? I am all dressed and the sleigh is ready."

Without waiting for a reply he dashed downstairs.

While Quincy was donning his sober suit of black, with a Prince Albert
coat and white tie, Alice had put on an equally sober costume of fawn
colored silk, with collar and cuffs of dainty lace, with little dashes
of pink ribbon, by way of contrast in color.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE SURPRISE PARTY.

After Alice had taken her place on the back seat in the double sleigh,
Quincy started to take his place on the front seat, beside 'Zekiel, but
the latter motioned him to sit beside Alice, and Quincy did so without
needing any urging.

As 'Zekiel took up the reins, Quincy leaned forward and touched him on
the shoulder.

"I've just thought," said he, "that I've made a big blunder and I can't
see how I can repair it."

"What's the matter?" asked 'Zekiel; and Alice turned an inquiring face
towards Quincy.

"The fact is," Quincy continued, "I ordered some ice cream and cake sent
down from the city for the show to-night, but I forgot, I am ashamed to
say, to make arrangements to have it sent up to Deacon Mason's. It will
be directed to him, but the station agent won't be likely to send it up
before to-morrow."

"What time is it?" asked 'Zekiel.

Quincy looked at his watch and replied, "It is just half-past four."

"Why do we go so early?" inquired Alice, "they will not have tea till
six."

"Oh," said 'Zekiel, "I intended to give you a sleigh ride first anyway.
Now with this pair of trotters I am going to take you over to
Eastborough Centre and have you back at Deacon Mason's barn door in just
one hour and with appetites that it will take two suppers to satisfy."

With this 'Zekiel whipped up his horses and they dashed off towards the
town. A short distance beyond Uncle Ike's chicken coop they met Abner
Stiles driving home from the Centre. He nodded to 'Zekiel, but Quincy
did not notice him, being engaged in conversation with Alice at the
time. They reached the station, and Quincy gave orders to have the
material sent up, so that it would arrive at about half-past nine.
'Zekiel more than kept his promise, for they reached Deacon Mason's barn
at exactly twenty-nine minutes past five. Hiram