She had evidently overheard some, if not all, of the good lady's earnest speech. Harris Colesworth appeared, too, and Professor Spink was right behind him. "You stopped for me, as I asked you to, Lucas?" asked the young chemist. "Sure, Mr. Colesworth." "Miss Lydia is going, too," said the young man. "That'll fill the bill, then, sir," said Lucas, grinning. "But I say!" exclaimed the professor, suddenly. "Can't you squeeze _me_ in? I'm going over the hill, too." "Don't see how it kin be done, Professor," said Lucas. "But you said you thought that there'd be an extra seat----" "Didn't know maw was going, then," replied the unabashed Lucas. "And Somers has driven off to school with his old mare," exclaimed Spink. "I believe he has," observed Harris. "This is a pretty pass!" and Mr. Spink was evidently angry. "I've just _got_ to get to that vendue." "I'm afraid you'll have to walk--and it's advertised to begin in ha'f an hour," quoth Lucas. "Say! where's your other rig?" demanded the professor. "I'll hire it." "Dad's plowin' with the big team," said Lucas, flicking the backs of the ponies with his whip, as they started, "and our old mare is lame. Gid-up! "That Jud Spink is gittin' jest as pop'lar 'round here as a pedlar sellin' mustard plasters in the lower regions!" observed young Pritchett, as they whirled out of the yard. "Why, Lucas Pritchett! how you talk!" gasped his mother. The widow's auction sale--or "vendue"--brought together, as such affairs usually do in the country, more people, and aroused a deal more interest, than does a funeral. There was a goodly crowd before the little house, or moving idly through the half-dismantled lower rooms when Lucas halted the ponies to let Harris and the ladies out. To Lyddy's surprise, the women present--or most of them--welcomed her with more warmth than she had experienced in a greeting since she and her sister had first come to Hillcrest. But the auctioneer began to put up the household articles for sale very soon and that relieved Lyddy of some embarrassment in meeting these folk who so suddenly had veered toward her. There were only a few things the girl could afford to buy. The Dutch oven was the most important; and fortunately most of the farmers' wives had stoves in their kitchens, so there was not much bidding. Lyddy had it nocked down to her for sixty cents. Mrs. Harrison seemed very sad to see some of her things go, and Lyddy believed that every article that the widow seemed particularly anxious about, young Harris Colesworth bid in. At least, he bought a bureau, a worktable, an old rocking chair with stuffed back and cushion, and last of all an old, age-darkened, birdseye maple desk, which seemed shaky and half-ready to fall to pieces. "That article ought to bring ye in a forchune, Mr. Colesworth," declared the auctioneer, cheerfully. "That's where they say Bob hid his forchune--yessir!"