“I'm afraid, Quincy, some of the charm has departed. Things have changed, and, in spite of our resolves, we change with them.”
When they alighted at Eastborough Centre, Ellis Smith stood there with his carriage.
“How do you do, Ellis, and how's your brother Abbott? Will you take us to the Hawkins House?” said Quincy. Turning to his wife, he added, “Mrs. Rawkins is a good cook—her rooms are large and clean. We can go a visiting during the day and have quiet times by ourselves when we wish.” His wife nodded her acquiescence with the plan proposed.
“Ellis, can you handle those two big trunks alone?”
“Yes, Guv'nor. I'm a leetle bit heavier built than Abbott.”
Quincy drew Alice's attention to the Eagle Hotel.
“There's where we hatched the plot that downed Mr. Obadiah Strout, when he was an enemy of mine. Say, Ellis, drive up by the Poor House, through the Willows, and then back down the Centre Road to Mason Street. That will carry us by some of the old landmarks.”
As they passed the Poor House they saw “pussy” Mr. Waters, sitting on the piazza and Sam standing in the barn doorway.
“There's where my Uncle James died,” said Quincy. “Did I ever tell you, Alice, that he left some money and it went to found the Sawyer Public Library? He made me promise not to tell that he left any, and it has always troubled me to receive a credit that really was not my due.”
“But you could have kept the money, couldn't you?”