instinctive, unreasoning, and unreasonable jealousy of any mark of
attention or consideration shown to any other person than herself, even if
it did not in the smallest way interfere with her comfort; and this cold,
sarcastic manner of speaking was, of all the forms of her ill-nature, the
one he found most unbearable. He made no reply, but stood still at the
window, watching Mercy's light and literally joyful movements, as she
helped her mother out of, and down from, the antiquated old carriage, and
carried parcel after parcel and laid them on the doorstep.

Mrs. White continued in the same sarcastic tone,--

"Pray go and help move all their baggage in, Stephen, if it would give you
any pleasure. It is nothing to me, I am sure, if you choose to be all the
time doing all sorts of things for everybody. I don't see the least
occasion for it, that's all."

"It seems to me only common neighborliness and friendly courtesy, mother,"
replied Stephen, gently. "But you know you and I never agree upon such
points. Our views are radically different, and it is best not to discuss
them."

"Views!" ejaculated Mrs. White, in a voice more like the low growl of some
animal than like any sound possible to human organs. "I don't want to hear
any thing about 'views' about such a trifle. Why don't you go, if you want
to, and be done with it?"

"It is too late now," answered Stephen, in the same unruffled tone. "They
have gone in, and the carriage is driving off."

"Well, perhaps they would like to have you put down their carpets for