child, how do you do? 'Pears to me you've grown handsome. It agrees
with you to live here I reckon, but I'll venture you'll be glad enough
to leave, and go and live with her, won't you?" pointing towards a
lady, who was just coming from Mrs. Parker's room, and towards whom
Mary's heart instantly warmed.

"You see," continued Mr. Knight, "one of the Lincoln girls has taken
a mighty shine to you, and it's queer, too, for they're dreadful
stuck-up folks."

"If you please, sir," said Mary, interrupting him, "Jenny isn't a bit
stuck up."

"Umph!" returned Mr. Knight. "She don't belong to the Lincoln race
then, I guess. I know them, root and branch. Lincoln's wife used to
work in the factory at Southbridge, but she's forgot all about that,
and holds her head dreadful high whenever she sees me. But that's
neither here nor there. This woman wants you to live with her. Miss
Mason, this is Mary. Mary, this is Miss Mason."

The introduction being thus happily over, Mrs. Mason proceeded to ask
Mary a variety of questions, and ended by saying she thought she would
take her, although she would rather not have her come for a few days,
as she was going to be absent. Miss Grundy was now interrogated
concerning her knowledge of work, and with quite a consequential air,
she replied, "Perhaps, ma'am, it looks too much like praising myself,
considerin' that I've had the managin' of her mostly, but I must
confess that she's lived with me so long and got my ways so well, that
she's as pleasant a mannered, good-tempered child, and will scour as
bright a knife as you could wish to see!"