off with the horses as he sometimes did. Mary could not trust herself
to reply for she had agreed to sit next Jenny at table, and had in her
own mind decided to give her little friend her share of berries. She
glanced once at Mrs. Mason, who apparently did not notice her, and
then gulping down her tears, took her station by the window, where she
could see the coachman who, instead of meditating a drive around the
neighborhood was fast asleep upon the box. Jenny did not miss her
companion until she was sitting down to the table, and then noticing
an empty plate between herself and her mother, who managed to take up
as much room as possible, she rather impolitely called out, "Here,
mother, sit along and make room for Mary. That's her place. Why, where
is she? Mrs. Mason, may I call her?"

Mrs. Mason, who had seen and heard more than Mary fancied, and who in
seating her guests had contrived to bring Mary's plate next to Mrs.
Lincoln, nodded, and Jenny springing up ran to the parlor, where Mary
stood counting flies, looking up at the ceiling, and trying various
other ways to keep from crying. Seizing both her hands Jenny almost
dragged her into the dining-room, where she found it rather difficult
squeezing in between her mother and Rose, whose elbows took up much
more room than was necessary. A timely _pinch_, however, duly
administered, sent the young lady along an inch or so, and Jenny and
Mary were at last fairly seated.

Mrs. Lincoln reddened,--Mrs. Campbell looked concerned,--Mrs. Mason
amused,--Rose angry,--Mary mortified,--while Ella, who was not quick
enough to understand, did not look at all except at her strawberries,
which disappeared rapidly. Then in order to attract attention, she
scraped her saucer as loudly as possible; but for once Mrs. Mason was
very obtuse, not even taking the hint when Mrs. Campbell removed a