s did when Strout spoke to him.
No more was said until they reached home. Strout entered the boarding
house and went upstairs to his room, forgetting that there was a man
from Boston, to arrive late that evening, who was to have the next room
to his.

Abner put up the horse and went home. As he went by Strout's door,
thoughts of the rum and molasses, and the good cigar that he had enjoyed
the night of the surprise party one week ago went through his mind, and
he stopped before Strout's door and listened attentively, but there was
no sound, and he went upstairs disconsolately, and went to bed feeling
that his confidence in the Professor had been somewhat diminished by the
events of the day.

CHAPTER XXIX.

MRS. HAWKINS' BOARDING HOUSE.

Mrs. Hawkins waited patiently until eight o'clock for the gentleman from
Boston to come down to breakfast. She then waited impatiently from eight
o'clock till nine. During that time she put the breakfast on the stove
to keep it warm, and also made several trips to the front entry, where
she listened to see if she could hear any signs of movement on the part
of her new boarder.

When nine o'clock arrived she could restrain her impatience no longer,
and, going upstairs, she gave a sharp knock on the door of Quincy's
room.

"What is it?" answered a voice, somewhat sharply.

"It's nine o'clock, and your breakfast's most dried up," replied Mrs.
Hawkins.

"I don't wish for any breakfast," said the voice within the room, but in
a much pleasanter tone. "What time do you have dinner?"

"Twelve o'clock," said Mrs. Hawkins.

"All right," answered the voice, cheerfully. "I'll take my breakfast and
dinner together."

"That beats all," said Mrs. Hawkins, as she entered the kitchen.

"What beats all?" asked Betsy Green, who worked for Mrs. Hawkins.

"It beats all," repeated Mrs. Hawkins, "how these city folks can sit up
till twelve o'clock at night, and then go without their breakfast till
noontime. I've fixed up somethin' pretty nice for him, and I don't
propose to see it wasted."

"What are you goin' to do with it?" asked Betsy. "'Twon't keep till
to-morrer mornin'."

"I'm goin' to eat it myself," said Mrs. Hawkins. And suiting the action
to the word, she transferred the appetizing breakfast to the kitchen
table, and, taking a seat, began to devour it.

"Have you seen your sister, Samanthy, lately?" she asked.

"I was up there Sunday evening," replied Betsy, "and she sai