Jacob Perkins arose. As he was turning to go, Mrs. Allen placed her
hand upon his shoulder, and said--

"I can trust you, Mr. Perkins?"

"Madam, you can," was his reply; and he passed from the quiet house
into the darkness without. The night was moonless, but the stars
shone down from an unclouded sky. When Jacob Perkins found himself
alone, and began to look this adventure full in the face, some
unpleasant doubts touching the part he was about to play, intruded
themselves upon his thoughts. He had seen the handsome stranger
going daily to visit Mrs. Allen, for now nearly a week, and had
listened to the town talk touching the matter, until his own mind
was filled with the common idea, that something was wrong. And now,
to be called on to drive Mrs. Allen to Boston, secretly, and under
cover of the night, seemed so much like becoming a party to some act
of folly or crime, that he gave way to hesitation, and began to seek
for reasons that would justify his playing the lady false. Then came
up the image of her sweet, reverent face, as she said so earnestly,
"Nothing wrong, as God is my witness!" And his first purpose was
restored.

Punctually, at half-past ten o'clock, the team of Jacob Perkins
drove noiselessly in through the gate, and up the carriage-way to
the door of the Allen mansion. No lights were visible in any part of
the house. Under the portico were two figures, a man and a
woman--the man holding something in his arms, which, on a closer
observation, Jacob saw to be a child. Two large trunks and a small
one stood near.