When church was out, Sal insisted upon going down immediately; so they
descended together to the porch below, reaching it just as Mrs.
Campbell appeared in the doorway. Had she chosen, Mary could have
touched the lady's dress as she passed; but she rather shrank from
being seen, and would probably not have been observed at all, had not
Sal planted herself directly in front of Mrs. Campbell, saying loudly
enough for all near her to hear, "Madam, do you not recognize your
munificent gift of charity in yonder amazing bonnet?" at the same time
pointing towards Mary, who nervously grasped the strings of her hat,
as if to remove the offensive article.

Mrs. Campbell haughtily pushed Sal aside, and advancing towards the
child, said, "I am glad to see you at church Mary, and hope you will
now come regularly. You can accompany Ella home after the Sabbath
school, if you like."

The words and manner were so cold and formal, that Mary was obliged to
force down her tears before she replied, that she was going to her
mother's grave, and wanted Ella to go with her.

"It is pretty warm to walk so far, but if Ella wishes it she has my
permission. Only tell her not to get red and heated," said Mrs.
Campbell; and gathering up the folds of her rich silk, the texture of
which Sal Furbush had been examining, and comparing with her own
plum-color, she walked away.

Scarcely was she gone, when Jenny Lincoln came tripping up, and
seizing both Mary's hands, exclaimed, "I am real glad you are here. I
thought you hadn't come, until I heard them talking about a crazy
woman. But let's go to my class, and you'll have a chance to see Ella