"
This argument was unanswerable, and Quincy bade her a laughing good-by
as the train sped on towards Boston, the special car in charge of the
coachman and footman bringing up the rear.
Thus Aunt Ella's visit to Mason's Corner became an event of the past,
but the memory of it remained green for a long time in the minds of
those who had witnessed her arrival and departure.
Ellis Smith drove Quincy home to the Pettengill house. It was to be home
no longer, for Hiram and Mandy were to have the room that Quincy had
occupied so long. His trunk and other belongings he had packed up the
night before, and at Quincy's request, Cobb's twins had taken them out
to Jacob's Parlor, where he found them. He knew that Mr. and Mrs.
Hawkins were to spend the afternoon with their daughter and son-in-law.
Quincy also knew that Uncle Ike and Alice were at Deacon Mason's, where
Ezekiel and Huldy were to remain for the coming week.
For the first time since he had been at Mason's Corner, Quincy felt
lonesome and deserted. He reflected on his way to Mrs. Hawkins's
boarding house that these weddings were all very nice, to be sure, but
they had deprived him of the society of many good friends, who were now
united by stronger ties than those of simple, everyday friendship.
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