d lastly to inquire if her mouth hadn't commenced
turning a little towards the right ear! After finding her box,
assuring her that her color was natural and her mouth all straight, he
at last got started. The road was long and the hills were steep, but
patiently Billy toiled on, thinking how surprised and pleased Mary
would be; and when he saw how joyfully she received him, he felt more
than paid for his trouble. Some boys would have rudely shaken her off,
ashamed to be caressed by a little girl, but Billy's heart was full of
kindly sympathy, and he returned her caresses as a brother would have
done.

As he released her, he was startled at hearing some one call out,
"Bravo! That, I conclude, is a country hug. I hope she won't try it on
me!"

Turning about he saw before him a white-faced boy, nearly of his own
age, whose dress and appearance indicated that he belonged to a higher
grade, as far as wealth was concerned. It was Henry Lincoln, notorious
both for pride and insolence. Billy, who had worked for Mr. Lincoln,
had been insulted by Henry many a time, and now he longed to avenge
it, but native politeness taught him that in the presence of Mary
'twould not be proper, so without a word to Henry he whispered to the
little girl, "That fellow lives near here, and if he ever gives you
trouble, just let me know."

"Kissed her then, didn't you?" sneeringly asked Henry, retreating at
the same time, for there was something in Billy's eye, which he
feared.

"Come into the house," said Mary, "where he can't see us," and leading
the way she conducted him up to her own room, where there was no fear
of being interrupted.

Alice was first carefully fixed in her cradle, and then kneeling down
at Billy's side, and laying her arms across his lap, Mary told him of
every thing which had happened, and finished by asking, "how long she
must stay there."

Had Billy's purse been as large as his heart, that question would have
been easily answered. Now he could only shake his head in reply,
while Mary next asked if he had seen Ella.

"I have not seen her," returned he, "but I've heard that rainy as it
was this morning, Mrs. Campbell's maid was out selecting muslins and
jaconets for her, and they say she is not to wear black, as Mrs.
Campbell thinks her too young."

Mary did not speak for some time, but her head dropped on Billy's knee
and she seemed to be intently thinking. At last, brushing aside the
hair which had fallen over h