"Mamma will look upon the dark side," said Martha, "but _I_ am much
encouraged. Our physician says, that rambling about in the country,
running in the fields and woods, climbing fences and trees, if she is
disposed, will do wonders for Emma: and I believe it; for how
wonderfully she has improved during these three months--so full of
life, and so full of interest in everybody."

Emma had refused the cushioned seat, because she saw at a glance that
the young boy occupying that seat was more feeble than herself. The
name of this little boy was Edwin. Emma had met him frequently in the
woods, and down by the brook where he went to fish. They had thus
become pretty well acquainted, and from him Emma had learned the name
of the pretty girl who sat in the pew in front of their own at
church--the little girl who wore a black ribbon upon her bonnet, and
whose manner in the house of prayer was both quiet and devout. Edwin
had told her that the name of this pretty girl was Mary Palmer; that
just before their family came to Appledale she had lost a little
sister; and that since then, though very quiet and kind before, Mary
had been very patient, even with Fanny Brighton. Emma, therefore, was
not wholly unprepared for the off-hand greeting bestowed upon her that
morning by Fanny. On first getting into the wagon, she pressed Mary's
hand without waiting for the ceremony of an introduction, for she knew
her name. Mary loved to have Emma so near her; for though they had
never spoken together before, a mutual affection existed between them;
but the modest girl felt that Henry ought to have given Emma a seat
beside some one who knew more than herself.

"Fanny Brighton," thought Mary, "is so amusing when she chooses to be;
Alice More is so witty; and the Misses Sliver so learned, Henry ought