t's time I was turning my
toes out and my elbows in. Ugh! how I do hate such works. If I ever
have a house, there shan't be a fashionable thing about it. I'll have
it full of cats, dogs, and poor children, with a swing and a
'_teater_' in every room, and Billy Bender shall live with me, and
drive the horses!"

So saying, she ran off; and Mary, having gathered her cowslips, sat
down to think of Mrs. Mason, and wonder if she should ever see her.
Since Alice's death she had been in the daily habit of learning a
short lesson, which she recited to Sally, and this afternoon, when the
dishes were all washed, she had as usual stolen away to her books. She
had not been long occupied, ere Rind called her, saying Mr. Knight,
who, it will be remembered, had brought her to the poor-house, was
down stairs and wanted to see her, and that there was a lady with him,
too.

Mary readily guessed that the lady must be Mrs. Mason and carefully
brushing her hair, and tying on a clean apron, she descended to the
kitchen, where she was met by Mr. Knight, who called out, "Hallo, my
child, how do you do? 'Pears to me you've grown handsome. It agrees
with you to live here I reckon, but I'll venture you'll be glad enough
to leave, and go and live with her, won't you?" pointing towards a
lady, who was just coming from Mrs. Parker's room, and towards whom
Mary's heart instantly warmed.

"You see," continued Mr. Knight, "one of the Lincoln girls has taken
a mighty shine to you, and it's queer, too, for they're dreadful
stuck-up folks."

"If you please, sir," said Mary, interrupting him, "Jenny isn't a bit
stuck up."

"Umph!" returned Mr. Knight. "She don't belong to the Lincoln race
then, I guess. I know them, root and branch. Lincoln's wife used to
work in the factory at Southbridge, but she's forgot all about that,
and holds her head dreadful high whenever she sees me. But that's
neither here nor there. This woman wants you to live with her. Miss
Mason, this is Mary. Mary, this is Miss Mason."

The introduction being thus happily over, Mrs. Mason proceeded to ask
Mary a variety of questions, and ended by saying she thought she would
take her, although she would rather not have her come for a few days,
as she was going to be absent. Miss Grundy was now interrogated
concerning her knowledge of work, and with quite a consequential air,
she replied, "Perhaps, ma'am, it looks too much like praising myself,
considerin' that I've had the managin'