Just then there was the sound of carriage wheels, and a woman near the
door exclaimed, "If you'll believe it there she is now, going right
straight into Mrs. Mason's yard."

"Well, if that don't beat me," said Mrs. Perkins. "Seems to me I'd
have waited a little longer for look's sake. Can you see what she's
got on from here?" and the lady made a rush for the window to
ascertain if possible that important fact.

Meantime the carriage steps were let down and Mrs. Campbell alighted.
As Mrs. Knight's guests had surmised, she was far more ready to visit
Mary now than heretofore. Ella, too, had been duly informed by her
waiting-maid that she needn't mind denying that she had a sister to
the Boston girls who were spending a summer in Chicopee.

"To be sure," said Sarah, "she'll never be a fine lady like you and
live in the city; but then Mrs. Mason is a very respectable woman, and
will no doubt put her to a trade, which is better than being a town
pauper; so you mustn't feel above her any more, for it's wicked, and
Mrs. Campbell wouldn't like it, for you know she and I are trying to
bring you up in the fear of the Lord."

Accordingly Ella was prepared to greet her sister more cordially than
she had done before in a long time, and Mary that day took her first
lesson in learning that too often friends come and go with prosperity.
But she did not think of it then. She only knew that her sister's arm
was around her neck, and her sister's kiss upon her cheek. With a cry
of joy, she exclaimed, "Oh, Ella, I knew you'd be glad to find me so
happy."