“Was he hurt?” quickly asked Mary.

“Not a bit on’t,” said Mr. Knight, “but he was scared some, I guess.  I got out and helped him, and when he heard I’s from Rice Corner, he said he’d been into school.  Then he asked forty-’leven questions about you, and jest as I was settin’ you up high, who should come a canterin’ up with their long-tailed gowns, and hats like men, but Ella Campbell, and a great white-eyed pucker that came home with her from school.  Either Ella’s horse was scary, or she did it a purpose, for the minit she got near, it began to rare and she would have fell off, if that man hadn’t catched it by the bit, and held her on with t’other hand.  I allus was the most sanguinary of men, (Mr. Knight was never so far wrong in his life,) and I was buildin’ castles about him, and our little school-marm, when Ella came along, and I gin it up, for I see that he was took, and she did look handsome with her curls a flyin’.  Wall, as I wasn’t of no more use, I whipped up old Charlotte and come on.”

“When did Ella return?” asked Mary, who had not before heard of her sister’s arrival.

“I don’t know,” said Mr. Knight.  “The first I see of her she was cuttin’ through the streets on the dead run; but I mustn’t stay here, gabbin’, so good night, Miss Mason,—­good night, Mary, hope you’ve got good news in that are letter.”

The moment he was gone, Mary ran up to her room, to read her letter, from which we give the following extract.

“You must have forgotten George Moreland, or you would have mentioned him to me.  I like him very much indeed, and yet I could not help feeling a little jealous, when he manifested so much interest in you.  Sometimes, Mary, I think that for a brother I am getting too selfish, and do not wish any one to like you except myself, but I surely need not feel so towards George, the best friend I have in Boston.  He is very kind, lending me books, and has even offered to use his influence in getting me a situation in one of the best law offices in the city.”

After reading this letter, Mary sat for a long time, thinking of George Moreland,—­of the time when she first knew him,—­of all that William Bender had been to her since,—­and wondering, as girls sometimes will, which she liked the best.  Billy, unquestionably, had the strongest claim to her love, but could he have known how much satisfaction she felt in thinking that George still remembered and felt interested in her, he would have had some reason for fearing, as he occasionally did, that she would never be to him aught save a sister.

CHAPTER XVII.

JEALOUSY.

The day following Mr. Stuart’s visit was Saturday, and as there was no school, Mary decided to call upon her sister, whom she had not seen for some months.  Mrs. Mason, who had some shopping to do in the village, offered to accompany her, and about two in the afternoon, they set forward in Mr. Knight’s covered buggy.  The roads were smooth and dry, and in a short time they reached the bridge near the depot.  A train of cars bound for Boston was just going out, and from one of the windows Mr. Stuart was looking, and waving his hand towards Mary, who bowed in token of recognition.