ok Mary's hand as warmly as if
she had not seen her for a year, and then with her broad, white
cap-strings flying back, she repaired to the kitchen to give orders
concerning the supper.

Mary did not notice it then, but she afterwards remembered, that Ida
seemed quite anxious about her appearance, for following her to her
room, she said, "You look tired, Mary. Sit down and rest you awhile.
Here, take my vinaigrette,--that will revive you." Then as Mary was
arranging her hair, she said, "Just puff out this side a little
more;--there, that's right. Now turn round, I want to see how you
look."

"Well, how do I?" asked Mary, facing about as Ida directed.

"I guess you'll do," returned Ida. "I believe Henry Lincoln was right,
when he said that this blue merino, and linen collar, was the most
becoming dress you could wear: but you look well in every thing, you
have so fine a form."

"Don't believe all her flattery," said Jenny, laughingly "She's only
comparing your tall, slender figure with little dumpy me; but I'm
growing thin,--see," and she lapped her dress two or three inches in
front.

"Come, now let's go down," said Ida, "and I'll introduce you, to
Jenny's surprise, first."

With Ida leading the way, they entered the music room, where in one
corner stood Rose's piano, open, and apparently inviting Jenny to its
side. With a joyful cry, she sprang forward, exclaiming, "Oh, how kind
in your father; I almost know we can redeem it some time. I'll teach
school,--any thing to get it again."

"Don't thank father too much," answered Ida, "for he has nothing to do
with it, except giving it house room, and one quarter's teaching will
pay that bill!"

"Who _did_ buy it, then?" asked Jenny; and Ida replied, "Can't tell
you just yet. I must have some music first. Come, Mary, you like to
play. Give me my favorite, 'Rosa Lee,' with variations."

Mary was passionately fond of music, and, for the time she had taken
lessons, played uncommonly well. Seating herself at the piano, she
became oblivious to all else around her, and when a tall figure for a
moment darkened the doorway, while Jenny uttered a suppressed
exclamation of surprise, she paid no heed, nor did she become
conscious of a third person's presence until the group advanced
towards her, Ida and Jenny leaning upon the piano, and the other
standing at her right, a little in the rear. Thinking, if she thought
at all, that it was William Bender, Mary played on until th