"I'm glad to see you again, Mr. Sawyer," and the Deacon's grasp was a
firm one. "I didn't get up to the Town Hall that night, for I didn't
feel first-rate and Sophia didn't want to go alone, but Abner told me
what you did and said, and I reckon added a little on his own
account."
Abner appeared in the doorway. "I've put up the mare, Mr. Pettingill.
Want me for anything more, Dekin?"
"You can go home and help Susie," said Mrs. Mason.
When Abner had gone, the Deacon chuckled and said, "Nothing could
please Abner better than to take supper with Susie and pass the
evening in her company. He's more'n forty and she's only twenty, but
such hitch-ups ain't uncommon nowadays."
"That is what they call a December and May marriage," remarked Alice.
"Not quite as bad as that," said the Deacon. "I should say about
October and March."
It was a jolly company that sat down to a well-filled table that
evening. Quincy's first coming to town, and his exciting experiences
during his four months' residence at Mason's Corner, formed the
principal topics of conversation, and Alice appreciated more fully
than ever her husband's persistency, which had shown itself as
strongly in doing good to others as it had in manifesting love for
herself.
When they reached the Hawkins House Mrs. Hawkins was on the watch for
them.
"There's a young man here to see you, Mr.
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