ou would say," interrupted Mrs.
Mason. "Ashamed to acknowledge that the same blood flowed in her
veins, that the same roof once sheltered them, and that the same
mother bent lovingly over their pillows, calling them her children."

"Why, not exactly that," said Mrs. Campbell, fidgeting in her chair
and growing very red. "I think there is a difference between feeling
mortified and ashamed. Now you must know that Ella would not be
particularly pleased to have a homely, stupid, rawboned country girl
pointed out as her sister to a circle of fashionable acquaintances in
Boston, where I intend taking her as soon as her education is
finished; and I think it well enough for Mary to understand, that with
the best you can do for her there will still be a great difference
between her own and her sister's position."

"Excuse me, madam," again interrupted Mrs. Mason, "a stupid, awkward
country girl Mary is not, and never will be. In point of intellect she
is far superior to her sister, and possesses more graceful and
lady-like manners. Instead of Ella's being ashamed of her, I fancy it
will be just the reverse, unless your daughter's foolish vanity and
utter selfishness is soon checked. Pardon me for being thus plain,
but in the short time Mary has been with me, I have learned to love
her, and my heart already warms towards her as towards a daughter, and
I cannot calmly hear her spoken of so contemptuously."

During this conversation, Ella had remained listening at the
keyhole, and as the voices grew louder and more earnest, Mary, too,
distinguished what they said. She was too young to appreciate it fully,
but she understood enough to wound her deeply; and as she just then
heard Ella say there was a carriage coming, she sprang up the stairs,
and entering her own room, threw herself upon the bed and burst into
tears. Erelong a little chubby face looked in at the door, and a voice
which went to Mary's heart, exclaimed, "Why-ee,--Mary,--crying the first
time I come to see you!"

It was Jenny, and in a moment the girls were in each other's arms.

"Rose has gone to the garden with Ella," said Jenny, "but she told me
where to find you, and I came right up here. Oh, what a nice little
room, so different from mine with my things scattered every where. But
what is the matter? Don't you like to live with Mrs. Mason?"

"Yes, very much," answered Mary. "It isn't that," and then she told
what she had overheard.

"It's perfectly ridiculou