ce Minton, "how I do h

ey are a perfect nuisance, and we were g

o's

lo Stevenson, and Rachel Drayton, of course. By the way, how terribly intimate those t

s you call Marion 'her

y; she walks round here sometimes as

me in just as the last remark was made, and knew very well to

hinks herself superior

know you're jealous of he

t purring voice. "Oh, no! I'm not jealous of her; there is no reason why I should be. But really, Sarah, I

ertainly had a good deal of truth in it, and was none the

n, for the sake of changing the subje

ick! I don't see what there is lovely about her,

. "I thought you were one of the ones who were so

seen her," replied Georgi

ve an opportunity to differ with Marion," ret

Georgie. Sarah flounced out of the room too indignant for speech, and just as

f; we shall have a chance for

will be awful slopp

besides who cares for that? We

re going?"

. "You for one, and I for another; that's two. Miss Drayton and Florence

ive that Marion could not help laughing, and exclaimed, "Oh, yes! you know 'her royal

tly. "Did you hea

re she had been sitting. "What was that you said, Marion, about 'her hi

I hadn't overheard your remarks, and of course I coul

was meant for an hon

f it had been Sarah, I might have thought she said it out of spite; but of course when Georgie Graham said

ving a good opinion of on

claim the greatness,-it was 'thrust upon me;'" and Marion, satisfied with that shaft, turned on her heel, and opening t

oft tones, and with an expression in her eyes which was anything but

ring off, and there was every prospect that the proposed plan of walking

r's wife, who supplied the school with eggs, butter, and che

er. She was fond of them all, although she had her favorites, among whom was Marion; and she always kep

were all out on the piazza, getting up an appetite they s

to her unless it was absolutely necessary, and then always addressed her as Miss Drayton, although every other girl in school had, by this time, become accustomed to familiarly call her Rachel. Florence had done everything in her power to draw Marion into their

t Florence was turning from her for a new friend. This was not really the ca

ss which they had each felt, and which naturally drew them closer to each other. Florence had never known her mother, but the loss was none the less great to her; she felt that there was a place in th

r friendship in return, even at the risk of seeing Marion for a time estranged from her; for she trusted to Marion's b

irectly in front of her, and she knew that they would have been happy to have had her join in their conversation. In fact, they spoke so that she could hear every word they said; but she occupied herself by telling Rose a story of such remarkable length and interest as to perfe

to see ye; this is a si

t us, auntie?"

for yer these three Saturdays past! What

you see the term has only just beg

aid it up agin yer. But who's this

e the deep mourning apparel, and her kind heart at once divined its cause; and she exclaimed with great heartiness as she took Rachel's hands in her own rough palms, "Wall, child, y

nce; "flattering, as I live! I w

t, according to my notion. But come in, gals; come in, you must be tired after y

at the tin box contained, and were only

hich was displayed a huge Bible, and a china shepherdess in a green skirt and pink bodice, smiling tenderly over two glass lamps and a Britannia teapo

out a large tin box filled to the top with delicious brown

on the table, "jest help yerselves, and the m

x and not leave any for Jabe; what s

etting his fill. Eat all yer want, an

ss Stiefbach didn't like it at all; she said it was bad enough bringing boxes from home, but going round the neighborhood picking up ca

as to have you come here and eat my doughnuts, and if you choose to carry some on 'em

Miss Stiefbach, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if she wore the same stiff dresse

nt any of us perfect; we all hev our faults; if it aint one t

nie Thayer, who was leaning with both elbows on the table, a piece of a

t seemed to me these weren't 's good as common. I had something on my mind that wo

een some Julia made last summer. She took a cooking-fit, and tried most everything; mother said

e'n half depends on the fryin'. You must hev yer fat hot, and stand over 'em all the time. I allers watch mine pretty close and turn 'em offen with a fork, and then I hev a cullender ready to put 'em right

asked after a short paus

t to let us eat up all your doughnuts this time, because she'll be up before long and w

ied Aunt Bettie; "I hope s

ulia thinks it's nothing but

Aunt Bettie; "you tell her she needn't be afraid about the do

ily as usual; and after the first flush of excitement at meeting her young friends and dispensing her hospitality was o

s over her silver-bowed spectacles, with a sad, musing expres

n a certain degree to her visitors, though they did not themselves remark

d although Aunt Bettie pressed them to remain s

wait for me, I'll catch up with you;" and before Rose could beg to go back with her, she had turned round and ran off up the road. She ran quickly, but noiselessly along, and was back to the f

only Marion. What is the matter? I thought you seemed worried abo

the sight of you young things, all lookin' so bright and happy, did make

atter with her, aun

I've writ, and Jabe he's writ, but we haint had a sign of an answer, and I'm afraid she's dead, o

at might have happened to prevent your hearing from her? You know a girl that lives out can't always find time to write a

ter-hearted gal livin' than my Jemimy, but she got kinder lonesome and discontented-like a livin' way off here, and took it into her head she'd like the city better. She allus was a high-sperrited gal, and 'twas dull for her here, that's a fact

ought you were one of the kind who always looked on the

y one in the city as I ken call upon to help me. I don't know a soul in the place I could get to hunt her up. Sometimes I think

her up. She has to go to those offices very often after servants, and like as not she might stumble right on her. Now cheer up, auntie, for I feel ju

tears still glistening in her eyes, an

like me, even if she noticed I was sad and worried. You've comforted a poor, old wo

at looked down at her, while her own flushe

a very different person from this gentle girl. Her whole soul was shining through her eyes; all her haughtiness, pride, and coldness had fallen from her, and she stood almost like one

the tears rolled down both of their cheeks; but Marion

late, and I must be off; so

e went into the house with something of her usual briskness, and returning, brought out a

Jemima

of Mis

Eest Crorf

st

es it was a perfect monument to the glory of her son Jabe, she made no comments, and folding it up, tucked it carefully

were rapidly growing shorter, it was quite dusk, a

s turning over in her mind the probabilities and improbabilities of her mother'

the time she arrived, and Florence met her in the hall with

nce; "what has kept you so long? It must ha

ion, as she pulled off her muddy rubbers before going upstairs. "

a synopsis of her conversation with Aunt Bettie, and tol

ual up there, but I never noticed there was anything the matter with Aunt Bettie; and if I had I don't believe it would have occurred to me to go ba

being kind to the poor, old thing, because I could not help it. If there had been any hateful

t, Marion. You do conqu

ittle, nervous, forced laugh. "It is too mu

und her still awake. She had been for some time thoroughly dissatisfied with herself, and the thought that she had been of s

mpulsive action, not one in which a disagreeable duty had been plainly pointed out for her to follow; and she determinedly put aside all feeling of self-satisfaction. She knew that if

her; treated Rachel politely and courteously; but she knew that her politeness had been cold and formal, and her courtesy less kindly than she would bestow upon a beggar at the door. But she said to herself, Florence makes up for all my deficiencies. This bitter thought, in var

e back to her, and she remembered the fond embrace and the ear

thousand ways, because, when it was appealed to by a fatherless, motherle

g her more, and tears of shame and sorrow filled her eyes, as, bending over

her thoughts gradually wandered back to Aunt Bettie, and with her m