Emily found it so impossible to imagine happiness under such circumstances that she changed the subject by asking in a tone which had unconsciously grown more respectful since this last revelation of Becky’s abilities,—­

“If you do so well here, why don’t you try for a larger school in a better place?”

“Oh, I couldn’t leave mother yet; I hope to some day, when the girls are older, and the boys able to get on alone.  But I can’t go now, for there’s a sight of things to do, and mother is always laid up with rheumatism in cold weather.  So much butter-making down cellar is bad for her; but she won’t let me do that in summer, so I take care of her in winter.  I can see to things night and morning, and through the day she’s quiet, and sits piecing carpet-rags and resting up for next spring.  We made and wove all the carpets in the house, except the parlor one.  Mrs. Taylor gave us that, and the curtains, and the easy-chair.  Mother takes a sight of comfort in that.”

“Mrs. Taylor is the lady who first came to board here, and told us and others about it,” said Emily.

“Yes, and she’s the kindest lady in the world!  I’ll tell you all about her some day, it’s real interesting; now I must see to my pies, and get the vegetables on,” answered Becky, glancing at the gay clock in the kitchen with an anxious look.

“Then I won’t waste any more of your precious time.  May I sit in that pretty place; or is it your private bower?” asked Emily, as she dismounted from the wash-bench.

“Yes, indeed you may.  That’s mother’s resting-place when work is done.  Father made the spring long ago, and I put the ferns there.  She can’t go rambling round, and she likes pretty things, so we fixed it up for her, and she takes comfort there nights.”

Becky bustled off to the oven with her pies, and Emily roamed away to the big barn to lie on the hay, enjoying the view down the valley, as she thought over what she had seen and heard, and very naturally contrasted her own luxurious and tenderly guarded life with this other girl’s, so hard and dull and narrow.  Working all summer and teaching all winter in that dismal little school-house, with no change but home cares and carpet-weaving!  It looked horrible to pleasure-loving Emily, who led the happy, care-free life of girls of her class, with pleasures of all sorts, and a future of still greater luxury, variety, and happiness, opening brightly before her.

It worried her to think of any one being contented with such a meagre share of the good things of life, when she was unsatisfied in spite of the rich store showered upon her.  She could not understand it, and fell asleep wishing every one could be comfortable,—­it was so annoying to see them grubbing in kitchens, teaching in bleak school-houses among snow-drifts, and wearing ugly calico gowns.