n some surprise.

In a few words George related the particulars of his acquaintance with
the Howards, and then again asked where both Mary and Ella were.

Billy replied that for a few years back Mary had lived with a Mrs.
Mason, while Ella, at the time of her mother's death had been adopted
by Mrs. Campbell. "But," said he, "I never think of Ella in connection
with Mary, they are so unlike; Ella is proud and vain and silly, and
treats her sister with the utmost rudeness, though Mary is far more
agreeable and intelligent, and as I think the best looking."

"She must have changed very much," answered George; "for if I
remember rightly, she was not remarkable for personal beauty."

"She hasn't a silly, doll baby's face, but there isn't a finer looking
girl in Chicopee, no, nor in Boston either," returned Billy, with so
much warmth and earnestness that George laughed aloud, saying, "Why,
really, Bender, you are more eloquent on the subject of female beauty
than I supposed you to be; but go on; tell me more of her. Is she at
all refined or polished?"

"I dare say she would not meet with _your_ ideas of a lady," answered
Billy; "but she does mine exactly, for she possesses more natural
refinement and delicacy than two thirds of the city belles."

"Really, I am getting quite interested in her," said George. "How is
her education?"

"Good, very good," returned Billy, adding that she was now teaching in
Rice Corner, hoping to earn money enough to attend some seminary in
the fall.

"Teaching!" repeated George; "why she can't be over sixteen."

He was going to say more, when some one slapped him rudely on the
shoulder, calling out, "How are you, old feller, and what is there in
Boston to interest such a scapegrace as I am?"

Looking up, Billy saw before him Henry Lincoln, exquisitely dressed,
but bearing in his appearance evident marks of dissipation.

"Why, Henry," exclaimed George, "how came you here? I supposed you
were drawing lampblack caricatures of some one of the tutors in old
Yale. What's the matter? What have you been doing?"

"Why you see," answered Henry, drawing his cigar from his mouth and
squirting, by accident of course, a quantity of spittle over Billy's
nicely blacked shoes; "Why you see one of the sophs got his arm broken
in a row, and as I am so tender-hearted and couldn't bear to hear him
groan, to say nothing of his swearing, the faculty kindly advised me
to leave, and sent on before me a recomm