he promptly responded to
every question. But it was not Mrs. Mason's presence alone which
incited Mary to do so well. Among the crowd of spectators she caught a
glimpse of a face which twice before she had seen, once in the
school-room at Rice Corner, and once in the graveyard at Chicopee.
Turn which way she would, she felt, rather than saw, how intently Mr.
Stuart watched her, and when at last the exercises were over, and she
with others arose to receive her Diploma, she involuntarily glanced in
the direction where she knew he sat. For an instant their eyes met,
and in the expression of his, she read an approval warmer than words
could have expressed.

That night Mary sat alone in her room, listening almost nervously to
the sound of every footstep, and half starting up if it came near her
door. But for certain reasons Mr. Stuart did not think proper to call,
and while Mary was confidently expecting him, he was several miles on
his way home.

In a day or two Mary returned to Chicopee, but did not, like Ella, lay
her books aside and consider her education finished. Two or three
hours each morning were devoted to study, or reading of some kind. For
several weeks nothing was allowed to interfere with this arrangement,
but at the end of that time, the quiet of Mrs. Mason's house was
disturbed by the unexpected arrival of Aunt Martha and Ida, who came
up to Chicopee for the purpose of inducing Mrs. Mason and Mary to
spend the coming winter in Boston. At first Mrs. Mason hesitated, but
every objection which either she or Mary raised was so easily put
aside, that she finally consented, saying she would be ready to go
about the middle of November. Aunt Martha, who was a bustling, active
little woman, and fancied that her brother's household always went
wrong without her, soon brought her visit to a close, and within the
week went back to Boston, together with Ida.

The day following their departure, Mrs. Perkins came over to inquire
who "them stuck up folks was, and if the youngest wasn't some kin to
the man that visited Mary's school two years before;" saying "they
favored each other enough to be brother and sister."

"Why, so they do," returned Mary. "I have often tried to think who it
was that Ida resembled; but they are not at all related, I presume."

Mrs. Mason said nothing, and soon changing the conversation, told Mrs.
Perkins of her projected visit.

"Wall, if it don't beat all what curis' things turn up!" said t