" which really sounded unearthly, and dirgelike enough.
Billy knew it would be lonely without Mary, but he was glad to have
her go to a better home, go he tried to be cheerful; telling her he
would take good care of Tasso, and that whenever she chose she must
claim her property.

Aside from him, Sally was the only composed one. It is true, her eyes
were very bright, and there was a compression about her mouth seldom
seen, except just before one of her frenzied attacks. Occasionally,
too, she pressed her hands upon her head, and walking to the sink,
bathed it in water, as if to cool its inward heat; but she said
nothing until Mary was about stepping into the buggy, when she
whispered in her ear, "If that novel should have an unprecedented run,
and of course it will, you would not mind sharing the profits with me,
would you?"

CHAPTER XIII.

A NEW HOME IN RICE CORNER.

Very different this time was Mary's ride with Mr. Knight from what it
had been some months before, and after brushing away a few natural
tears, and sending back a few heart-sighs to the loved ones left
behind, her spirits rallied, and by the time they reached the borders
of Rice Corner, there was such a look of quiet happiness on her face
that even Mr. Knight noticed it.

"I'll be hanged if I know what to make of it," said he. "When you rid
with me afore, I thought you was about as ugly favored a child as I
ever see, and now you look full as well as they'll average. What you
been doin'?"

"Perhaps it's because I've had my teeth out," suggested Mary, and Mr.
Knight, with another scrutinizing look in her face, replied, "Wall, I
guess 'tis that. Teeth is good is their place, but when they git to
achin', why, yank 'em out."

So saying, he again relapsed into silence, and commenced whipping at
the thistle tops and dandelions. As they rode on, Mary fancied that
the country looked pleasanter and the houses better, than in the
region of the poor-house; and when a sudden turn of the road brought
into view a beautiful blue sheet of water, embosomed by bright green
hills, her delight knew no bounds. Springing up and pointing towards
it, she exclaimed, "Oh, please stop a moment and look. Isn't it
lovely! What is it?"

"That? Oh, that's nothing but 'Pordunk Pond, or as folks most
generally call 'em, seem' there's two, North and South Pond."

"But it's big enough to be a lake, isn't it?" asked Mary.

"Why, yes," returned her companion. "It's better