Since her conversation with William a weight seemed lifted from Mary's spirits, and she now was happier far than she ever remembered of having been before.

She was a general favorite in Boston, where all of her acquaintances vied with each other in making her stay among them as agreeable as possible.

Her facilities for improvement, too, were great, and what was better than all the rest, George Moreland was to return much sooner than he at first intended.

While she was so happy herself, Mary could not find it in her heart to be uncourteous to Henry, and her manner towards him that morning was so kind and affable that it completely upset him; and when he parted with her at Mr.
Selden's gate, his mind was quite made up to offer her his heart and hand.
"I shall have to work," thought he, as he entered his room to decide upon the best means by which to make his intentions known.

"I shall have to work, I know, but for her sake I'd do any thing." There was a bottle of Madeira standing upon the table and as he announced his determination of "doing any thing for the sake of Mary Howard," his eye fell upon his favorite beverage.