aid with a lowering frown, and movement towards Mary, who
shrank back into the corner and covered her mouth with her hand, as if
that were the cause of offence.

"But you can take an extra nap after dinner," said Mr. Parker, in a
conciliatory manner. "And then you are so good at managing children,
that I thought they would be better off near you."

This speech, while it mollified Polly, made Mary shudder, as she
thought of Alice's being "managed" by such a woman. But she had no
time for thought, for Polly, who was very rapid in her movements, and
always in a hurry, said, "Come, child, I will show you where you are
going to sleep;" at the same time she caught up Alice, who, not liking
her handling, kicked so vigorously that she was soon dropped; Polly
remarking, that "she was mighty strong in her legs for a sick baby."

After passing up a dark stairway they came to a door, which opened
under the garret stairs, and Mary was startled by a voice which seemed
to be almost over her head, and which, between a sneer and a hiss,
called out, "See where the immaculate Miss Grundy comes!"

This was followed by a wild, insane chuckle, which made Mary spring in
terror to Polly's side.

"Oh, who is it?" said she. "Is it Patsy?"

"Patsy!" was the tart reply. "She never is saucy like that. It's Sal
Furbush."

Mary longed to ask who Sal Furbush was; but as her guide did not seem,
at all inclined to be communicative, she followed on in silence until
they came to a longer and lighter hall, or "spaceway," as it is
frequently called in New England. On each side of this there were
doors opening into small sleeping rooms, and into one of these Polly
led her companion, saying, as she did so, "This is your room, and it's
a great favor to you to be so near me. But mind, that child mustn't
cry and keep me awake nights, for if she does, may-be you'll have to
move into that other space, where we heard the laugh."

Mary thought she would rather do any thing than that. She also felt a
great curiosity to know who her companion was, so she at last ventured
to ask, "Do you live here, Miss Polly?"

"Why, yes, I'm staying here for a spell now:--kind of seeing to
things. My name isn't Polly. It's Mrs. Mary Grundy, and somehow folks
have got to nicknaming me Polly, but it'll look more mannerly in you
to call me Mrs. Grundy; but what am I thinking of? The folks must have
their supper. So you'd better come down now."

"If you please," said Mary, wh