lied with a sneer, "I don't see
any ladies in the room."

Instantly Sal, now more furious than the dog, clutched her long, bony
fingers around his arm, saying, "Take back that insult, sir, or Tasso
shall tear you in pieces! What am I, if I am not a lady?"

Henry felt sure that Sal meant what she said, and with an air of
assumed deference, he replied as he backed himself out of his
uncomfortable quarters, "I beg your pardon Mrs. Furbush, I forgot that
you were present."

The whistle of the cars was now heard, and in a moment the locomotive
stood puffing before the depot. From one of the open windows a fair
young face looked out, and a voice which thrilled Mary's every nerve,
it seemed so familiar, called out, "Oh, Rosa, Jenny, all of you, I'm
so glad you are here; I was afraid there would be some mistake, and
I'd have to go alone."

"Isn't your father with you?" asked Henry, bowing so low, that he
almost pitched headlong from the platform.

"No," answered the young lady, "he couldn't leave, nor George either,
so Aunt Martha is my escort. She's fast asleep just opposite me, never
dreaming, I dare say, that we've stopped."

"The mischief," said Henry. "What's to be done? The old gent was
obliged to be in Southbridge to-day, so he bade me put Rose and Jenny
under your father's protection; but as he isn't here I'll have to go
myself."

"No you won't either," returned Ida, "Aunt Martha is as good as a man
any time, and can look after three as well as one."

"That's Ida Selden! Isn't she handsome?" whispered Jenny to Mary.

But Mary hardly heard her. She was gazing admiringly at Ida's animated
face, and tracing in it a strong resemblance to the boyish features,
which looked so mischievously out from the golden locket, which at
that moment lay next to her heart.

"All aboard," shouted the shrill voice of the conductor and Mary awoke
from her reverie, and twining her arms around Sally Furbush's neck,
bade her good-bye.

"The Lord be with you," said Sally, "and be sure you pay strict
attention to Grammar!"

Mary next looked for Ella, but she stood at a distance jesting
lightly with Henry Lincoln, and evidently determined not to see her
sister, who was hurrying towards her, when "All aboard" was again
shouted in her ear, while at the same moment, the conductor lifted her
lightly upon the step where Rose and Jenny were standing.

"This car is brim full," said Rose, looking over her shoulder, "but I
guess you can f