CHAPTER VIII.

AT CHURCH.


The Sabbath following Mary's first acquaintance with Jenny was the one
on which she was to go to church. Billy Bender promised that if his
mother were not suffering from any new disease, he would come to stay
with Alice, and in case he failed, the pleasant-looking woman was to
take his place. Mary would have preferred going alone, but Sally
begged so hard, and promised so fairly "not to make a speck of a face
at the preacher, provided he used good grammar," that Mary finally
asked Mr. Parker to let her go.

He consented willingly, saying he hoped the house would be peaceable
for once. And now, it was hard telling which looked forward to the
next Sunday with the most impatience, Mary or Sal, the latter of whom
was anxious to see the fashions, as she fancied her wardrobe was
getting out of date. To Mary's happiness there was one drawback. A few
weeks before her mother's death she had given to Ella her straw hat,
which she had outgrown, and now the only bonnet she possessed was the
veritable blue one of which George Moreland had made fun, and which by
this time was nearly worn out. Mrs. Campbell, who tried to do right
and thought that she did, had noticed Mary's absence from church, and
once on speaking of the subject before Hannah, the latter suggested
that probably she had no bonnet, saying that the one which she wore
at her mother's funeral was borrowed Mrs. Campbell immediately looked