" said Jenny, when at last the hay cart disappeared
from view, and the noise and dust had somewhat subsided. Then as she
saw the tears in Mary's eyes, she added, "Oh, I wouldn't care if they
did teaze me about Billy Bender. I'd as lief be teazed about him as
not."

"It isn't that," said Mary, smiling in spite of herself, at Jenny's
frankness. "It isn't that. I didn't like to hear Ella sing with your
brother, when she must have known he meant to annoy me."

"That certainly was wrong," returned Jenny; "but Ella isn't so much to
blame as Henry, who seems to have acquired a great influence over her
during the few weeks he has been at home. You know she is easily
flattered, and I dare say Henry has fully gratified her vanity in that
respect, for he says she is the only decent-looking girl in Chicopee.
But see, there comes Mrs. Mason, I guess she wonders what is keeping
you so long."

The moment Mrs. Mason entered the school-room, Jenny commenced talking
about Mount Holyoke, her tongue running so fast, that it entirely
prevented any one else from speaking, until she stopped for a moment
to take breath. Then Mrs. Mason very quietly remarked, that if Mary
wished to go to Mount Holyoke she could do so. Mary looked up
inquiringly, wondering what mine had opened so suddenly at her feet;
but she received no explanation until Jenny had bidden her good-bye,
and gone. Then she learned that Mrs. Mason had just received $100 from
a man in Boston, who had years before owed it to her husband, and was
unable to pay it sooner. "And now," said Mrs. Mason, "there is no
reason why you should not go to Mount Holyoke, if you wish to."

The glad tears which came to Mary's eyes were a sufficient evidence
that she did wish to, and the next day a letter was forwarded to Miss
Lyon, who promptly replied, expressing her willingness to receive Mary
as a pupil. And now Rice Corner was again thrown into a state of
fermentation. Mary was going to Mount Holyoke, and what was more
marvellous still, Mrs. Mason had bought her a black silk dress, which
cost her a dollar a yard! and more than one good dame declared her
intention of "giving up," if paupers came on so fast. This having been
a pauper was the thing of which Mary heard frequently, now that her
prospects were getting brighter. And even Ella, when told that her
sister was going to Mount Holyoke, said to Miss Porter, who was still
with her, "Why, isn't she getting along real fast for one who has
be