yer of
"Good Lord," Mrs. Perkins exclaimed, "Well, I'm glad you've owned up.
Half on 'em deny it,--but there 'tis in black and white in the Prayer
Book, 'I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.'"

It was in vain that Mary referred her to the Dictionary for a
definition of the word 'Catholic.' She knew all she wanted to know,
and she shouldn't wonder, bein' 'twas Friday, if Miss Mason didn't
have no meat for dinner.

The appearance of a nicely roasted bit of veal quieted her fears on
that subject, and as the effects of the strong green tea became
apparent, she said, "like enough she'd been too hard on the
Episcopals, for to tell the truth, she never felt so solemn in her
life as she did the time she went to one of their meetins'; but," she
added, "I do object to them two gowns, and I can't help it!"

At last the day was over, and with it the visit of the widow, who had
gathered enough gossiping materials to last her until the Monday
following, when the arrival in the neighborhood of George Moreland,
threw her upon a fresh theme, causing her to wonder "if 'twan't Mary's
beau, and if he hadn't been kinder courtin' her ever since the time he
visited her school."

She felt sure of it when, towards evening, she saw them enter the
school-house, and nothing but the presence of a visitor prevented her
from stealing across the road, and listening under the window. She
would undoubtedly have been highly edified, could she have heard their
conversation. The interest which George had felt in Mary when a little
child, was greatly increased when he visited her school in Rice
Corner, and saw how much she was improved in her manners and
appearance; and it was then that he conceived the idea of educating
her, determining to marry her if she proved to be all he hoped she
would.

That she did meet his expectations, was evident from the fact that his
object in stopping at Chicopee, was to settle a question which she
alone could decide. He had asked her to accompany him to the
school-house, because it was there his resolution had been formed, and
it was there he would make it known. Mary, too, had something which
she wished to say to him. She would thank him for his kindness to her
and her parents' memory; but the moment she commenced talking upon the
subject, George stopped her, and for the first time since they were
children, placed his arm around her waist, and kissing her smooth
white brow, said, "Shall I tell you, Mary, how you ca