Some dainty cakes, fruit, and cold well water were served in the dining room. Quincy ate slowly, but his thoughts were not about the food. He had shown little interest in the Fernborough girls with the exception of those in the families of his relatives and closest friends. But he was nearing the susceptible age, when, to a pure-minded boy, a girl playmate, by some mysterious transformation, becomes an object of admiration, and even veneration. That delicious mystery that surrounds young womanhood was attracting him. Mary was the cause of his newly-awakened interest, and soon a strong friendship sprang up between the two. When Hiram heard that Quincy had got the best of young Bob Wood he ran back to the store and told his partner. “Say, Strout, you can run the store for an hour or so. I must tell Mandy. She'll be 'mos' tickled to death.” Mr. Strout's disgust was shown in both voice and manner when Abner Stiles came in. “Say, Abner, is it true that Sawyer boy licked Bob?” “I should say so,” said Abner. “He must have got an all-fired trouncing, for his face looks like a raw beefsteak, an' one of the fellers said he'd been spittin' blood.” “Them Sawyers is brutes,” was Mr. Strout's comment. “I hope to the Lord that he is the last one of that brood to come to this town. Their money's the best part of 'em, but it ain't any better, when you come to that, than other folkses.” CHAPTER XX MARY DANA Quincy and Tom spent one more year at Andover. When they parted from the old school it was with feelings of deep regret. “I could be happy here for ten years more,” said Quincy. “So could I,” replied Tom. “But, after all, this is only a narrow path in the world of knowledge. Harvard is but a street and when we get out into the world I suppose we shall find a boulevard.” “I'm going to look down upon the world before I investigate its thoroughfares,” remarked Quincy. “What do you mean?” “I shall visit Fernborough for only a short time this summer, a few days in which to see the folks, and then I shall go to the White Mountains. I'm going to stand on the top of Mount Washington, and look down on the busy hives of men.” Tom knew Quincy had received a letter from Mary, saying that she and her aunt intended spending the summer at Fabyans, and he felt that Quincy, being near Mary, would probably be on a higher pinnacle than any mountain could supply, and the “eternal hills” would become objects of secondary importance. But, Tom wisely refrained from mentioning these thoughts, for lovers do not seek confidants unless help is needed.