Three months afterwards, Mary again came home to visit her parents, and again called upon Mr. Green to pay over to him what she had been able to save from her earnings.  It so happened that Henry Green was on a visit from Boston, and that he met her, as before, as she was retiring from the house of his father.  This time he spoke to her and renewed their old acquaintance, even going so far as to walk a portion of the way home with her.  At the end of another three months, they met again.  Brief though this meeting was, it left upon the mind of each the other’s image more strongly impressed than it had ever been.  In the circle where Henry Green moved in Boston, he met many educated, refined, and elegant young women, some of whom had attracted him strongly; but, in the humble Mary Bacon, whose station in life was that of a toiling factory girl, he saw a moral beauty whose light threw all the allurements presented by these completely into shadow.

Six months went by.  Henry Green had been admitted to the bar, and was now a practising attorney in Boston.  It was in the pleasant month of June and he had come home to spend a few weeks with his family.  One morning, a day or two after his return, as he sat conversing with his father, the form of some one darkened the door.

“Ah Mary!” said the elder Mr. Green rising and taking the hand of Mary Bacon, which he shook warmly.  “My son, Henry,” he added, presenting the blushing girl to his son, who, in turn, took her hand and expressed the pleasure he felt at meeting her.  Knowing the business upon which Mary had called, Henry, not wishing to be present at its transaction, soon retired.  As he did so, Mary drew out her purse and took therefrom a small roll of bank bills, saying, as she handed it to Mr. Green,

“I have come to make you another payment.”

With a grave, business-like air, Mr. Green took the money and, after counting it over, went to his secretary and wrote out a receipt.

“Let me see,” said he, thoughtfully, as he came back with the receipt in his hand.  “How much does this make?  One, two, three, four, five quarterly payments.  One hundred and eighty-seven dollars and a half.  You’ll soon be through, Mary.  There is nothing like patience, perseverance, and industry.  How is your father this morning?”

“Very well, sir.”

“I think his health has improved of late.”

“Very much.”

“And so has every thing around him.  I was looking at his farm a few days ago, and never saw crops in a finer condition.  And how is your health, Mary.”

“Pretty good,” was replied, though not with much heartiness of manner.

Mr. Green now observed her more closely, and saw that her cheeks were thinner and paler than at her last visit.  He did not remark on it, however, and, after a few words more of conversation, Mary arose and withdrew.

It was, perhaps, an hour afterwards, that Henry said to his father,