then," said
she, "I suppose you can't help it, your fingers are so stiff!"

For a moment Mr. Stuart regarded her with an expression which it
seemed to Mary she had seen before, and then consulting his watch,
said he must go, as it was nearly car time, After he was gone, Ella
asked Mary endless questions as to where she met him, what he said,
and if she told him they were sisters. "How elegantly he was dressed,"
said she, "Didn't you feel dreadfully ashamed of your gingham
sun-bonnet and gown?"

"Why, no," said Mary. "I never once thought of them."

"I should, for I know he notices every thing," returned Ella; and then
leaning on her elbow so as to bring herself in range of the large
mirror opposite, she continued, "seems to me my curls are not arranged
becomingly this morning."

Either for mischief, or because she really thought so, Mary replied
"that they did not look as well as usual;" whereupon Ella grew red in
the face, saying that "she didn't think she looked so very badly."

Just then the first dinner bell rang, and starting up Ella exclaimed,
"Why-ee, _I_ forgot that ma expected General H. to dine. I must go and
dress this minute."

Without ever asking her sister to stay to dinner, she hastily left the
room. Upon finding herself so unceremoniously deserted, Mary tied on
the despised gingham bonnet and started for home. She had reached the
place where Ella the year before met with Mr. Stuart, when she saw a
boy, whom she knew was living at the poor-house, coming down the hill
as fast as a half blind old horse could bring him. When he got
opposite to her he halted, and with eyes projecting like harvest
apples, told her to "jump in, for Mrs. Parker was dying, and they had
sent for her."

"I've been to your house," said he, "and your marm thought mebby I'd
meet you."

Mary immediately sprang in, and by adroitly questioning Mike, whose
intellect was not the brightest in the world, managed to ascertain
that Mrs. Parker had been much worse for several days, that Sal
Furbush had turned nurse; faithfully attending her night and day, and
occasionally sharing "her vigils" with a "sleek, fancy-looking girl,
who dressed up in meetin' clothes every day, and who had first
proposed sending for Mary." Mary readily guessed that the "sleek,
fancy-looking" girl was Jenny, and on reaching the poor house she
found her suspicions correct, for Jenny came out to meet her, followed
by Sally, who exclaimed, "Weep, oh daught