oes go into the business; but if he does, I will
guarantee to undersell him on every article, and I will put on a couple
of teams and hire a couple of men, and we'll scour Eastborough and
Mason's Corner and Montrose for orders in the morning, and then we'll
deliver all the goods by team in the afternoon in regular Boston style.
I never knew just exactly what I was cut out for. I know I don't like
studying law, and it may be, after all, that it's my destiny to become a
grocery-man."

Quincy took Ezekiel by the arm, led him to the window, and whispered
something to him.

Ezekiel laughed, then turned red in the face, then finally said in an
undertone, "Waal, I dunno, seems kinder early, but I dunno but it jest
as well might be then as any other time. I hain't got nuthin' ter do
this afternoon, so I think I'll take a walk up there to see how the land
lays."

He said, "Good afternoon" to the others and left the room.

Quincy then took Samuel Hill by the arm in the same manner as he had
done to Ezekiel, led him to the window, and said something to him which
wrought a similar effect to that produced upon Ezekiel.

Samuel thought for a moment and then said, "That ain't a bad idea; I'm
satisfied if the other party is. I'm going to drive over this afternoon
and tell the old gentleman that matters are all fixed up, and I'll find
out if there's any objection to the plan. Guess I'll go now, as I've got
to git back to-night."

So he said "Good afternoon," and, accompanied by his father, took his
departure.

"Sit down, Hiram," said Quincy, "I want to have a talk with you. Have
you settled up that little matter with Mandy?"

"No," said Hiram, "not yet; I've ben tryin' to muster up courage, but I
haven't ben able to up to the present moment."

"I should think," remarked Quincy, "that a man who had carried his
captain off the field with a shower of bullets raining about him, or who
had pushed forward with his country's flag in the face of a similar
storm of bullets, ought not to be afraid to ask a young girl to marry
him."

"Waal, do yer know," said Hiram, "I'm more afraid o' Mandy than I would
be of the whole army."

"Well," said Quincy, "I don't see any other way for you except to walk
up like a man and meet your fate. Of course if I could do it for you I'd
be willing to oblige you."

"No, thank yer," said Hiram, "I kinder reckon thet little matter had
better be settled between the two principals in the case without cal