away now;" but Mary did not move; and when at last they lifted her up,
they saw that she had fainted. In a few moments she recovered, and
with her arms across her sister's neck, stood by until the wide grave
was filled, and the bystanders were moving away.

As they walked homeward together, two women, who had been present at
the funeral, discussed the matter as follows:--

"They took it hard, poor things, particularly the oldest."

"Yes, though I didn't think she cared as much as t'other one, until
she fainted, but it's no wonder, for she's old enough to dread the
poor-house. Did you say they were staying at widder Bender's?"

"Yes, and how in this world widder Bender, as poor as she pretends to
be, can afford to do it, is more than I can tell."

"Are you going to the other funeral this afternoon?"

"I guess I am. I wouldn't miss it for a good deal. Why as true as you
live, I have never set my foot in Mrs. Campbell's house yet, and know
no more what is in it than the dead."

"Well, I do, for my girl Nancy Ray used to live there, and she's told
me sights. She says they've got a big looking-glass that cost three
hundred dollars."

"So I've heard, and I s'pose there'll be great doin's this afternoon.
The coffin, they say, came from Worcester, and cost fifty dollars."