Quincy made preparation for an immediate departure. “Mrs. Hawkins, I must go to Boston at once with Mr. Merry. Will you have Andrew get a team ready for me? I will leave it at the Eagle Hotel. I know the way home.” “You ought to,” said she. “You've druv it times enough.” “What will you do with yourself all day, Alice? I must go to the State House on business, but I'll be back by six o'clock.” “If I were home I'd have my horse saddled and have a ride out to the Arboretum or Chestnut Hill.” “They've no saddle horses here, unfortunately. I'll tell you what to do. After dinner go down to Mandy Maxwell's and see her and the children, and have a talk with Uncle Ike. I'll be there in time for supper, tell Mandy.” When Quincy went down stairs he found that Mrs. Hawkins had gone out to the stable to give Andrew directions about the team. Quincy said in a low tone: “Mrs. Hawkins, have you some spare stalls in your stable that I can use while here?” “You can have the old barn all to yourself. It's a leetle further from the house, but it's in first-rate order.” As they drove towards Eastborough Centre, Quincy pointed out the objects of interest to Mr. Merry, who thought Fernborough a beautiful town. “Come down next Saturday afternoon, Harry, and stay over Sunday. Bring down any important letters. Perhaps my sister Maude will come back with me.” Mr. Merry accepted the invitation with polite outward thanks, but with an inward sense of intense gratification. Love is blind. If he had reflected, he would have come to the conclusion that the daughter of the Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer, the millionaire, was not for him, an unfledged lawyer with a mother to support. When they reached Eastborough Centre, Quincy found he was too late for the train. He had nearly an hour at his disposal. His first visit was to the Eagle Hotel, where he put up the horse. Mr. Parsons, the proprietor, was greatly pleased to meet him. “You haven't forgotten how we railroaded Strout out of office, have you?” “That was long ago,” said Quincy. “Strout and I are good friends now. He's one of my partners in the Fernborough store.' “So I've been told.” Quincy took Mr. Parsons aside and had an animated conversation with him. “I can get you just what you want, Guv'nor. Kind and gentle but some go in them when needed.” “Send them to the Hawkins House and don't forget the saddles.” They crossed the square to the telegraph office, where Quincy sent this message. “Miss MAUDE SAWYER, “Wideview, Redford, Mass. “Meet me at State House by two o'clock. Leave your trunk at station. Something important. “QUINCY.” As they were leaving the office Quincy met Tobias Smith, father of Abbott and Ellis Smith, and Wallace Stackpole. “Glad to see you, Guv'nor,” said 'Bias. “You remember Mr. Stackpole that we gave Strout's job of tax-collector to--he's held it ever since. We're mighty glad Strout lives in Fernborough. We don't have circuses at town meetings now he's gone.”