Selectmen's room. It was conveniently arranged for such a purpose,
having a door at either end, besides the double one near the middle.
At the request of Selectman and Toastmaster Strout, the Governor and
his wife and the Countess of Sussex, formerly Lindy Putnam, stood in
line to greet the citizens of Fernborough.

First came Benoni Hill, who had increased in rotundity since selling
his grocery store and giving up an active life.

"How much is flour a barrel?" asked Quincy as he shook hands with
him.

"When I kept the store myself everything I wanted I got at wholesale,
but now your partners charge me full price."

"That's right," said Quincy. "You got a good price for the store, and
now we're trying to get some of it back," and he laughed heartily as
he extended his hand to young Samuel Hill. His wife, the former Miss
Tilly James, was with him.

"I am pleased to meet a lion-tamer," said Tilly.

"I never saw a live one," said Quincy, somewhat puzzled by the
remark.

"Oh, yes, you have. Our local lion, Obadiah Strout, is as tame as a
dove, and we owe it to you."

"If I remember aright, a certain Miss Tilly James aided me when I
gave the first lesson."