“Mr. Sawyer is improvin’,” said Mrs. Hawkins to Betsy the next morning after breakfast.  “He’s slept in his bed two nights runnin’, and he’s eat four square meals, and seemed to enjoy them, too.  I guess he didn’t git much when he was jumpin’ ’round so from one place to another.”

Squire Rundlett kept his word, and the legal documents were duly signed and executed.  Alice told the Squire that she was going away for several months, and that she would undoubtedly send to him from time to time.

“My dear Miss Pettengill,” replied the gallant Squire, “you shall have all you ask for if I have to sell my best horse and mortgage my house.  But I don’t think it will be necessary,” he added.  “Some more dividends and interest have come in and I have more than a thousand dollars to your credit now.”

After the Squire had left, Alice told Quincy that her preparations were all made, and that she would be ready to go to Boston the next day.  The mid-day train was fixed upon.  After dinner that day, Quincy informed Mrs. Hawkins that he wished to pay his bill in full, as he should leave for good the next day.

Holding the money in her hand, Mrs. Hawkins entered the kitchen and addressed Betsy.

“Just what I expected,” said she; “jest as that Mr. Sawyer got to stayin’ home nights and eating his meals like a Christian, he ups an’ gits.  I guess it’ll be a dry summer.  I kinder thought them two boys over to the grocery would come here, but I understand they’re goin’ down to Pettengill’s, and somebody told me that Strout goes over to Eastborough Centre every Sunday now.  I s’pose he’s tryin’ to shine up again to that Bessie Chisholm, that he used to be sweet on.  When he goes to keepin’ house there’ll be another boarder gone;” and the poor woman, having borrowed enough trouble, sat down and wiped a supposed tear out of each eye with her greasy apron.

Quincy reached Aunt Ella’s residence with the young ladies about noon.  Aunt Ella gave the three travellers a hearty welcome, and the young ladies were shown at once to their rooms, which were on the third floor at the front of the house.  They were connected, so that Rosa could be close at hand in case Alice should need assistance.

While the footman and Buttons were taking the trunks upstairs, Quincy asked his aunt if he could leave his trunk there for a short time.  “I do not wish to take it home,” he said, “until after I have the ladies settled at Nantucket.  The carriage is waiting outside and I am going to get the one o’clock train.”

“I will take good care of your trunk,” said Aunt Ella, “and you, too, if you will come and live with me.  But can’t you stop to lunch with us?” she asked.  But Quincy declined, and requesting his aunt to say good-by to the young ladies for him, he entered the carriage and was driven off.