zzie Upton, and the rest of
the Boston girls," face to face. Miss Porter, who acted the part of
hostess while Ella was dressing, was quickly interrogated by Lizzie
Upton, as to who the young lady was they met in the yard.

"That's Ella Campbell's sister," said Miss Porter. Then lowering her
voice to a whisper, she continued, "Don't you believe, Ella isn't Mrs.
Campbell's own daughter, but an adopted one!"

"I know that," answered Lizzie; "but this sister, where does she
live?"

"Oh, in a kind of a heathenish, out-of-the-way place, and teaches
school for a living."

"Well," returned Lizzie, "she is a much finer looking girl than
Ella."

"How can you say so," exclaimed three or four girls in a breath, and
Lizzie replied, "Perhaps she hasn't so much of what is called beauty
in her face, but she has a great deal more intellect."

Here the door-bell again rang; and Ella, having made a hasty toilet,
came tripping down the stairs in time to welcome Rose Lincoln, whom
she embraced as warmly as if a little eternity, instead of three days,
had elapsed since they met.

"I had perfectly despaired of your coming," said she "Oh, how sweet
you do look! But where's Jenny?"

Rose's lip curled scornfully, as she replied, "Why, she met Mary
Howard in the store, and I couldn't drag her away."

"And who is Mary Howard?" asked Lizzie Upton.

Rose glanced at Ella, who said, "Why, she's the girl you met going out
of the yard."

"Oh, yes.--I know,--your sister," returned Lizzie. "Isn't she to be
here? I have noticed her in church, and should like to get acquainted
with her. She has a fine eye and forehead."

Ella dared not tell Lizzie, that Mary was neither polished nor
refined, so she answered, that "she could not stay this afternoon, as
Mrs. Mason, the lady with whom she lived, was in a hurry to go home."

Miss Porter looked up quickly from her embroidery, and winked slyly at
Ella in commendation of her falsehood. Jenny now came bounding in, her
cheeks glowing, and her eyes sparkling like diamonds.

"I'm late, I know," said she, "but I met Mary in the store, and I
never know when to leave her. I tried to make her come with me,
telling her that as you were her sister 'twas no matter if she weren't
invited; but she said that Mrs. Mason had accepted an invitation to
take tea with Mrs. Johnson, and she was going there too."

Instantly Lizzie Upton's eyes were fixed upon Ella, who colored
scarlet; and quickly changing the conve