Little Lizzy Adams had been Parson Dorrance's pet when she lay in her cradle.

He had baptized her; and, when she came to woman's estate, he had performed the ceremony which gave her in marriage to Luke Hunter, the most promising young lawyer in the county.
She had always called Parson Dorrance her uncle, and her house in Penfield was his second home.

It had been Mrs.Hunter's wish for a long time that he should see and know her new friend, Mercy.

But Mercy was very shy of seeing the man for whom she felt such reverence, and had steadily refused to meet him.

It was therefore with a certain air of triumphant satisfaction that Mrs.Hunter led Parson Dorrance to the rock where Mercy was sitting, and exclaimed,-- "There, Uncle Dorrance! here she is!" Parson Dorrance did not wait for any farther introduction; but; holding out both his hands to Mercy, he said in a deep, mellow voice, and with a tone which had a benediction in it,-- "I am very glad to see you, Mrs.Philbrick.My child Lizzy here has been telling me about you for a long time.