voice, which seemed to belie the bitterness of
her words. She was not in reality bitter at all, not even towards
Mrs. Merrill, but she had clearly defined rules of conduct for
gentlewomen, and she mentioned it when these rules were transgressed.

"Well, mother dear, I can't see that it is likely to make much
difference to either you or me, anyway," said George, and his mother
felt consoled. She told herself that it was not possible that George
thought seriously of Lily, or he would not speak so.

"Miss Stillman is very eccentric," she remarked, departing from the
subject. "I offered to bring her home with me in the carriage. I knew
you would not mind the extra money. She has such a cold that I really
wondered that she came at all in such a storm; but, no, she seemed
fairly indignant at the idea. I never saw any one so proud. I asked
Mrs. Henry Stillman, but she did not like to have her sister-in-law
to go alone, so she would not accept, either; but Miss Stillman
walked herself, and made her sister walk, too, and I am positive it
was because she was proud. Do you really mean you think young Maria
did not want to see you, George?"

"It looked like it," George replied, laughing.

"Why?" asked his mother.

"How do I know, mother dear? I don't think Miss Edgham altogether
approves of me for some reason."

"I should like to know what reason she has for not approving of you,"
cried his mother, jealously. She looked admiringly at her son, who
was handsome, with a sort of rugged beauty, and whose face displayed
strength, and honesty not to be questioned. "I would like to know who
Maria Edgham thinks she is. She is rather pretty, but she cannot
compare with Lily Merrill as far as that goes, and she is teaching a
little district school, and from what I have seen of her, her manners
are subject to criticism. She is not half as lady-like as other girls
in Amity. When I think of the way she flew in here and attacked us
for not clothing those disreputable people across the river, just
because they have the same name, I can't help being indignant. I
never heard of a young girl's doing such a thing. And I think that if
she ran off when the bell rang, because she thought it was you, it
was certainly very rude. I think she virtually ascribed more meaning
to your call than there was."

"Lily said she had a headache," said George, but his own face assumed
an annoyed expression. That version of Maria's flight had not
occurred to hi