managed to make himself so agreeable, that Mrs.
Mason invited him to stay to tea,--an invitation which he readily
accepted. Whoever he was, he seemed to understand exactly how to find
out whatever he wished to know; and before tea was over, he had
learned of Mary's intention to attend the academy in Wilbraham, the
next autumn.

"Excuse me for making a suggestion," said he, "but why not go to Mt.
Holyoke? Do you not think the system of education there a most
excellent one?"

Mary glanced at Mrs. Mason, who replied, that "she believed they did
not care to take a pupil at South Hadley for a less period than a
year; and as Mary was entirely dependent upon herself, she could not
at present afford that length of time."

"That does make a difference," returned Mr. Stuart "but I hope she
will not give up Mt. Holyoke entirely, as I should prefer it to
Wilbraham."

Tea being over, Mr. Stuart arose to go; and Mary, as she accompanied
him to the door, could not forbear asking how he liked Mrs. Mason's
garden, which he had forgotten even to look at!

Blushing deeply, he replied, "I suppose Miss Howard has learned ere
this, that there are in the world things fairer and more attractive
than flowers, but I will look at them when I come again;" then
politely bidding her good night, be walked away, leaving Mary and Mrs.
Mason to wonder,--the one what he came there for, and the other
whether he would ever come again. The widow, too, wondered and
fidgeted, as the sun went down behind the long hill, and still under
the apple-tree the gray pony stood.

"It beats all nater what's kept him so long," said she, when he at
last appeared, and, unfastening, his horse, drove off at a furious
rate; "but if I live I'll know all about it to-morrow;" and with this
consolatory remark she returned to the best room, and for the
remainder of the evening devoted herself to the entertainment of Uncle
Jim and his wife Aunt Dolly.

That evening, Mr. Knight, who had been to the Post Office, called at
Mrs. Mason's, bringing with him a letter which bore the Boston
postmark. Passing it to Mary, he winked at Mrs. Mason, saying, "I
kinder guess how all this writin' works will end; but hain't there
been a young chap to see the school?"

"Yes; how did you know it," returned Mrs. Mason, while Mary blushed
more deeply than she did when Billy's letter was handed her.

"Why, you see," answered Mr. Knight, "I was about at the foot of the
Blanchard hill, when I