fan in full play, when Sally Ann came under the window, and punching
her back with a long stick, told her in a loud whisper, that "she must
come right home, for Uncle Jim and Aunt Dolly had just come from the
cars."

Accordingly, Mrs. Perkins, smoothing down her gingham flounces, and
drawing on her cotton gloves, arose to go, asking Mary as she passed,
"if that was an acquaintance of hers."

Mary shook her head, and the widow, more puzzled than ever, took her
leave.

When school was out, Mr. Stuart, who seemed in no haste whatever,
entered into a lively discussion with Mary concerning schools and
books, adroitly managing to draw her out upon all the leading topics
of the day. At last the conversation turned upon flowers; and when
Mary chanced to mention Mrs. Mason's beautiful garden, he instantly
expressed a great desire to see it, and finally offered to accompany
Mary home, provided she had no objections. She could not, of course,
say no, and the Widow Perkins, who, besides attending to "Uncle Jim"
and "Aunt Dolly," still found time to watch the school-house, came
very near letting her buttermilk biscuit burn to a cinder, when she
saw the young man walking down the road with Mary. Arrived at Mrs.
Mason's, the stranger managed to make himself so agreeable, that Mrs.
Mason invited him to stay to tea,--an invitation which he readily
accepted. Whoever he was, he seemed to understand exactly how to find
out whatever he wished to know; and before tea was over, he had
learned of Mary's intention to attend the academy in Wilbraham, the
next autumn.