Meanwhile Jack had gone on his way to the village and bought his chair, with some misgivings as to how Eloise would receive it, even from Mrs. Amy.  “I guess I’d better go with it, and make it right somehow,” he thought, getting into the chair and riding along in state, while the people he met looked curiously at him.  It was recess again when they reached the school-house, where, as usual, Tom Walker was leading the play.  At sight of the dray he stopped suddenly, and then went swiftly forward to the cart, and said to Jack, “Goin’ to take her out in that?”

Jack reddened a little, but answered pleasantly, “Perhaps.”

“Well, I guess she’ll like it better than the chips I told you about.  I’ve thrown ’em away.”

A ring from Ruby Ann’s bell told the boys their recess was over, and with a bow Tom hurried off, while Jack and his chair went on till they reached Mrs. Biggs’s door, just as Sam came up with the sea chair.  That good woman was washing in her back kitchen, but in response to the drayman’s knock she came hurriedly, wiping the soap-suds from her arms as she came, and holding up both hands as she saw the two chairs deposited at the door, while Sam held the note and roses, and Jack stood looking a little shamefaced, as if he hardly knew what to say.

“For the pity sakes and the old Harry, are you moving a furniture store, or what?” she asked.

Jack began to explain that Mrs. Amy thought, or he thought—­He could not quite bring himself to lie as glibly as Howard would have done, had he been there, and he stammered on, that he thought Miss Smith would soon be able to get round in a wheel chair, which he hoped she would accept with the compliments of—­He didn’t say Mrs. Amy, but Mrs. Biggs understood, and nodded that she did, helping him out by saying it was just like Mrs. Amy, and adding that it looked a good deal like the chair the Colonel had for a spell and then returned to Lowell & Brothers, where she saw it a few days ago in the window.

Jack made no reply, and Mrs. Biggs continued, “I s’pose t’other chair is Mrs. Amy’s compliments, too.  I’m sure I’m greatly obliged to her, and Miss Smith will be.  She is quite peart this morning.  Come in and see her.”

Jack did not think he would.  He’d rather have Mrs. Biggs present his chair, feeling sure that her conscience was of the elastic kind, which would not stop at means if a good end was attained.

“Thanks,” he replied.  “Later in the day I may come in.  Good-morning.”

He walked away, leaving Mrs. Biggs alone with Sam, who was told to take the chairs into Eloise’s room.

“Something from the Crompton House.  From Mrs. Amy, they say.  It is like her to be sending things where she takes a notion as she has to you,” Mrs. Biggs said, while Eloise looked on in astonishment.

She read Howard’s note, and her surprise increased as she said, “I ought not to keep them.  Col.  Crompton would not like it if he knew.”