alone to slink into the corner and hate
himself, while we enjoy the waltz and make fun of him. If you will only
do this, I hope he will be there, just to let all see how awkward he is
among his betters."

Some other boys here joined the group, and the conversation was broken
off. But Dave Farrington took occasion to remark in an undertone to
Tom:

"If Mat De Vere and a dozen more just like him should try to keep the
girls away from Fred Worthington, they'd find a big contract on their
hands; and the one who 'hated himself' would not be Fred, either. Just
wait till the party comes off, then look out for fun."

II.

Mapleton is a good type of a New England village, showing everywhere
plentiful evidences of thrift and energy.

Of course it has a manufacturing industry of some sort, or it could
hardly be a New England village; and the chief building of Mapleton, in
this line, is a large woolen factory that employs about three hundred
hands. There are also a number of minor industries, together with
stores, churches, and school houses. It is not a large town, there
being, perhaps, three thousand inhabitants all told.

Among so small a number one might suppose that the people would mingle
freely, and that exclusiveness would not thrive. At the time of which I
am writing it did not thrive to any great extent; still, it was there,
and showed itself principally in the refusal of the "town's people," so
called, to associate with the "factory folks."

Exceptions were made, however, in the case of the head officers of the
company, and the overseers of certain departments of the mill, who, by
virtue of their positions, which brought them in a liberal salary, were
graciously welcomed to the homes of the villagers.

These two branches of society had their different "sets." That of the
"villagers" was made up, as is usually the case, by the drawing together
of the well to do, the influential, and the better educated citizens,
while the others were left to form such social connections as their
opportunities afforded.

Fred Worthington's parents mingled with the latter class, for they were
far from rich. His father was a shoemaker, and earned only a small sum
weekly; but through the excellent management of his mother, they had a
neat and comfortable home.

During Fred's younger days he thought nothing of these dividing lines of
society; but as he had grown to be, as he considered, a young man--and,
indeed, he really