must stay there."

Had Billy's purse been as large as his heart, that question would have
been easily answered. Now he could only shake his head in reply,
while Mary next asked if he had seen Ella.

"I have not seen her," returned he, "but I've heard that rainy as it
was this morning, Mrs. Campbell's maid was out selecting muslins and
jaconets for her, and they say she is not to wear black, as Mrs.
Campbell thinks her too young."

Mary did not speak for some time, but her head dropped on Billy's knee
and she seemed to be intently thinking. At last, brushing aside the
hair which had fallen over her forehead, Billy said, "What are you
thinking about?"

"I was wondering if Ella wouldn't forget me and Allie now she is rich
and going to be a lady."

Billy had thought the same thing, and lifting the little girl in his
lap, he replied, "If _she_ does, I never will;"--and then he told her
again how, when he was older, and had money, he would take her from
the poor-house and send her to school, and that she should some time
be as much of a lady as Ella.

By this time Mrs. Grundy's work in the kitchen was done. Patsy had
been shaken for stealing a ginger cake; the lame woman had been
scolded because her floor had dried in streaks, which was nothing
remarkable considering how muddy it was. Uncle Peter had been driven
from the pantry for asking for milk, and now the lady herself had come