“Mr. Pettengill,” said he, “there has been a serious accident.  Miss Mason has been thrown from her carriage and her left arm is broken.  I sent Hiram for a doctor and I am on my way to Eastborough to telegraph to Boston for a surgeon and a nurse.  I shall not return to-night.  Go up to the Deacon’s and stay with her.”

As he said this the mare gave a bound forward and she never slackened pace until Eastborough Centre was reached.

Quincy sent his telegram and returned the injured buggy and the horse to the stable keeper, telling him to have it repaired and he would pay the bill.  He arranged to have a driver and a four-seated team ready on the arrival of the train bearing the doctor and the nurse.  In about an hour he received a telegram that they would leave on the 6.05 express and would reach Eastborough Centre at 7.15.

They arrived, and the hired driver, doctor, and nurse started for Mason’s Corner.

The last train to Boston left at 9.20.  Ten minutes before that hour the team returned with the doctor.

“She is all right,” he said.  “Everything has been done for her, and the other doctor will write me when my services are needed again.  Good night.”

The train dashed in and the doctor sped back to Boston.

Quincy had engaged a room at the hotel, and he at once retired to it, but not to sleep.  He passed the most uncomfortable night that had ever come to him.

The next afternoon Hiram told Mandy that he heard Professor Strout say to Robert Wood that he guessed that “accident would never have occurred if that city chap hadn’t been trying to drive hoss with one hand.”

Mandy said, “That Strout is a mean old thing, anyway, and if you tell me another thing that he says, I’ll fill your mouth full o’ soft soap, or my name isn’t Mandy Skinner.”

CHAPTER XI.

Some sad tidings.

The morning of the accident, when Quincy saw Ezekiel Pettengill standing on the steps of Uncle Ike’s house, Ezekiel was the bearer of some sad tidings.

He recognized Quincy as the latter started to come up the path, and saw him retrace his steps, and naturally thought, as most men would, that the reason Quincy did not come in was because he did not wish to meet him.

“Who was you looking after?” asked Uncle Ike, as Ezekiel entered the room and closed the door.

“I think it was Mr. Sawyer,” replied Ezekiel, “on his way to Eastborough Centre.”

“That Mr. Sawyer,” said Uncle Ike, “is a very level-headed young man.  He called on me once and I like him very much.  Do you know him, ’Zeke?”

“Yes, I know who he is,” Ezekiel answered, “but I have never been introduced to him.  He nods and I nod, or I say, ‘good mornin’,’ and he says, ‘good mornin’.’”

“Don’t you go up to Deacon Mason’s as much as you used to, ’Zeke?” asked Uncle Ike.  “I thought Huldy and you were going to make a match of it.”