Mr. Gordon was a very promising business man, and had an offer from the merchant with whom he was employed as a clerk, to enter into partnership with him, just before the time of his engagement.  He declined this offer, determining rather to go into business independently.  He had laid up about as much money as Albert had, and by means of this, and the excellent letters of recommendation which he obtained from the village people, he obtained a large stock of goods, on credit, in the city.  When buying his goods he also bought a small quantity of handsome furniture, on the same terms.  He hired a store.  He also hired a small white house, with green trees around it, and a pretty garden behind.  He was married nearly at the same time with Albert, and Anne Sophia in taking possession of her genteel and beautiful village home, was as happy as Mary Erskine was in her sylvan solitude.  Mr. Gordon told her that he had made a calculation, and he thought there was no doubt that, if business was tolerably good that winter, he should be able to clear enough to pay all his expenses and to pay for his furniture.

His calculations proved to be correct.  Business was very good.  He paid for his furniture, and bought as much more on a new credit in the spring.

Anne Sophia came out to make a call upon Mary Erskine, about a month after she had got established in her new home.  She came in the morning.  Mr. Gordon brought her in a chaise as far as to the corner, and she walked the rest of the way.  She was dressed very handsomely, and yet in pretty good taste.  It was not wholly a call of ceremony, for Anne Sophia felt really a strong attachment to Mary Erskine, and had a great desire to see her in her new home.

When she rose to take her leave, after her call was ended, she asked Mary Erskine to come to the village and see her as soon as she could.  “I meant to have called upon you long before this,” said she, “but I have been so busy, and we have had so much company.  But I want to see you very much indeed.  We have a beautiful house, and I have a great desire to show it to you.  I think you have got a beautiful place here for a farm, one of these days; but you ought to make your husband build you a better house.  He is as able to do it as my husband is to get me one, I have no doubt.”

Mary Erskine had no doubt either.  She did not say so however, but only replied that she liked her house very well.  The real reason why she liked it so much was one that Anne Sophia did not consider.  The reason was that it was her own.  Whereas Anne Sophia lived in a house, which, pretty as it was, belonged to other people.

All these things, it must be remembered, took place eight or ten years before the time when Malleville and Phonny went to visit Mary Erskine, and when Mary Bell was only four or five years old.  Phonny and Malleville, as well as a great many other children, had grown up from infancy since that time.  In fact, the Jemmy who fell from his horse and sprained his ankle the day they came, was Jemmy Gordon, Anne Sophia’s oldest son.