Fortunately, Mary knew nothing of Mrs. Perkins’s displeasure, and never dreamed that any feeling existed towards her, save that of perfect friendship.  Since we last saw her, she had grown into a fine, healthy-looking girl.  Her face and figure were round and full, and her complexion, though still rather pale, was clear as marble, contrasting well with her dark brown hair and eyes, which no longer seemed unnaturally large.  Still she was not beautiful, it is true, and yet Billy was not far from right when he called her the finest looking girl in Chicopee; and it was for this reason, perhaps, that Mrs. Campbell watched her with so much jealousy.

Every possible pains had been taken with Ella’s education.  The best teachers had been hired to instruct her, and she was now at a fashionable seminary, but still she did not possess one half the ease and gracefulness of manner, which seemed natural to her sister.  Since the day of that memorable visit, the two girls had seen but little of each other.  Ella would not forgive Mrs. Mason for praising Mary, nor forgive Mary for being praised; and as Mrs. Campbell, too pretended to feel insulted, the intercourse between the families gradually ceased; and oftentimes when Ella met her sister, she merely acknowledged her presence by a nod, or a simple “how d’ye do?”

When she heard that Mary was to be a teacher, she said “she was glad, for it was more respectable than going into a factory, or working out.”  Mrs. Campbell, too, felt in duty bound to express her pleasure, adding, that “she hoped Mary would give satisfaction, but ’twas extremely doubtful, she was so young, and possessed of so little dignity!”

Unfortunately, Widow Perkins’s red cottage stood directly opposite the school-house; and as the widow belonged to that stirring few who always “wash the breakfast dishes, and make the beds before any one is up in the house,” she had ample leisure to watch and report the proceedings of the new teacher.  Now Mrs. Perkins’s clock was like its mistress, always half an hour in advance of the true time and Mary had scarcely taught a week ere Mr. Knight, “the committee man,” was duly hailed in the street, and told that the ‘school-marm wanted lookin’ to, for she didn’t begin no mornin’ till half-past nine, nor no afternoon till half past one!  “Besides that,” she added, “I think she gives ’em too long a play spell.  Any ways, seem’s ef some on em was out o’door the hull time.”

Mr. Knight had too much good sense to heed the widow’s complaints, and he merely replied, “I’m glad on’t.  Five hours is enough to keep little shavers cramped up in the house,—­glad on’t.”