ly, she said, "Oh, _that_ girl! I'm sure I don't know
much about her, except that she's a _charity scholar_, or something of
that kind."
At the words "charity scholar," there was a peculiar smile on George's
face; but he continued talking, saying, "that if that were the case,
she ought to be very studious and he presumed she was."
"As nearly as I can judge of her," returned Rose, "she is not
remarkable for brilliant talents; but," she added, as she met Ida's
eye, "she has a certain way of showing off, and perhaps I am mistaken
with regard to her."
Very different from this was the description given of her by Ida, who
now came to her cousin's side, extolling Mary highly, and lamenting
the illness which would prevent George from seeing her. Aunt Martha,
also, spoke a word in Mary's favor, at the same time endeavoring to
stop the unkind remarks of Rose, whom she thoroughly disliked, and who
she feared was becoming too much of a favorite with George. Rose was
not only very handsome, but she also possessed a peculiar faculty of
making herself agreeable whenever she chose, and in Boston she was
quite a favorite with a certain class of young men. It was for George
Moreland, however, that her prettiest and most coquettish airs were
practised. He was the object which she would secure; and when she
heard Mary Howard so highly commended in his presence, she could not
forbear expressing her contempt, fancying that he, with his high
English notions, would feel just as she did, with regard to poverty
and low origin. As for George, it was difficult telling whom he did
prefer, though the last time Rose was in Boston, rumor had said that
he was particularly attentive to her; and Mrs. Lincoln, who was very
sanguine, once hinted to Ida, the probability that a relationship
would sooner or later exist between the two families.
Rose, too, though careful not to hint at such a thing in Ida's
presence, was quite willing that others of her companions at Mount
Holyoke should fancy there was an intimacy, if not an engagement
between herself and Mr. Moreland. Consequently he had not been in
South Hadley twenty-four hours, ere he was pointed out by some of the
villagers, as being the future husband of the elder Miss Lincoln,
whose haughty, disagreeable manners had become subject of general
remark. During the whole of George's stay at Mount Holyoke, Rose
managed to keep him at her side, entertaining him occasionally with
unkind remarks concer
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