"Where are we going?" she asked, as they cantered down the avenue.

"To the village, if you like. I want to call at the post-office."

"In hopes of finding a note from Ned, I suppose. I don't believe there
can be one there that would bring you later news than yesterday's
telegram. But I have no objection to making sure, and would as soon ride
in that direction as any other."

Nothing from Edward was found at the office; and the young wife seemed
much disappointed, till Ella suggested that that looked as if he
expected to be at home before night.

It was a cheering idea to Zoe: she brightened up at once, and in the
afternoon drove over the same road, feeling almost certain Edward would
be on the incoming train, due about the time she would reach the
village, or rather at the time she had planned to be there. Ella, who
had asked to accompany her, was slow with her dressing, taxing Zoe's
patience pretty severely by thus causing ten minutes' detention.

"Come, now, don't be worried: it won't kill Ned to have to wait ten or
fifteen minutes," she said laughingly, as she stepped into the carriage,
and seated herself by Zoe's side.

"No, I dare say not," returned the latter, trying to speak with perfect
pleasantness of tone and manner; "and he isn't one of the impatient
ones, who can never bear to be kept waiting a minute, like myself," she
added with a smile. "Now, Uncle Ben, drive pretty fast, so that we won't
be so very far behind time."