ost them; and Mary's
sympathy when she told her of them--the girl and two boys--won the
woman as much as the little lady's pretty manners had dazed her. It was
not long before she began to drop in upon Mary in the hour of twilight,
and sit through it without speaking often, or making herself especially
interesting in any way, but finding it pleasant, notwithstanding.

"John," said Mary,--her husband had come in unexpectedly,--"our
neighbor, Mrs. Riley."

John's bow was rather formal, and Mrs. Riley soon rose and said
good-evening.

"John," said the wife again, laying her hands on his shoulders as she
tiptoed to kiss him, "what troubles you?" Then she attempted a rallying
manner: "Don't my friends suit you?"

He hesitated only an instant, and said:--

"Oh, yes, that's all right!"

"Well, then, I don't see why you look so."

"I've finished the task I was to do."

"What! you haven't"--

"I'm out of employment."

They went and sat down on the little hair-cloth sofa that Mrs. Riley had
just left.

"I thought they said they would have other work for you."

"They said they might have; but it seems they haven't."

"And it's just in the opening of summer, too," said Mary; "why, what
right"--

"Oh!"--a despairing gesture and averted gaze--"they've a perfect right
if they think best. I asked them that myself at first--not too politely,
either; but I soon saw I was wrong."

They sat without speaking until it had grown quite dark. Then John said,
with a long breath, as he rose:--

"It passes my comprehension."

"What passes it?" asked Mary, detaining him by one hand.

"The reason why we are so pursued by misfortunes."

"But, John," she said, still holding him, "_is_ it misfortune? When I
know so well that you deserve to succeed, I think maybe it's good
fortune in disguise, after all. Don't you think it's possible? You
remember how it was last time, when A., B., & Co. failed. Maybe the best
of all is to come now!" She beamed with courage. "Why, John, it seems to
me I'd just go in the very best of spirits, the first thing to-morrow,
and tell Dr. Sevier you are looking for work. Don't you think it
might"--

"I've been there."

"Have you? What did he say?"

"He wasn't in."

* * *

There was another neighbor, with whom John and Mary did not get
acquainted. Not that it was more his fault than theirs; it may have been
less. Unfortunately for the Richlings there was in their dwelling no