Then came good-byes
and good-nights, and then the girls all kissed Huldy and her mother,
wished them long life and happiness, while their escorts stood quietly
by thinking of the pleasant homeward trips, and knowing in their hearts
that they should treasure more the pressure of the hand or the single
good-night kiss yet to come than they did the surprise party kisses that
had been theirs during the evening.
Mrs. Mason and 'Zekiel had prepared Alice for her homeward trip. Quincy
took occasion to seek out his partner in the reel to say good night, and
as he shook hands with her he said, "Would you consider me rude if I
asked your name and who taught you to dance?"
"Oh! no," she replied; "my name is Bessie Chisholm. I teach the dancing
school at Eastborough Centre, and Mr. Stiles always plays for me."
"Is he going to see you home to-night?" asked Quincy.
"Oh! no," said she; "I came with my brother. Here, Sylvester," cried
she, and a smart-looking, country fellow, apparently about twenty-one
years of age, came towards them. "I'm ready," said Bessie to him, and
then, turning to Quincy, "Mr.
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