While Mary was reading this, Jenny was eagerly questioning Uncle Ezra with regard to the sale, which, he said, "went off uncommon well," owing chiefly, he reckoned, "to a tall, and mighty good-lookin' chap, who kept bidding up and up, till he got 'em about where they should be.

Then he'd stop for someone else to bid." "Who was he ?" asked Mary, coming forward, and joining Jenny.
"Dun know, Miss; never seen him afore," said Uncle Ezra, "but he's got heaps of money, for when he paid for the pianner, he took out a roll of bills near about big as my two fists!" "Then the piano is gone," said Jenny sadly, while Mary asked how much it brought.
"Three hundred dollars was the last bid I heard from that young feller, and somebody who was biddin' agin him said, 'twas more'n 'twas wuth." "It wasn't either," spoke up Jenny, rather spiritedly, "It cost five hundred, and it's never been hurt a bit." "Mr.Bender bought that _little fiddle_ of your'n," continued Uncle Ezra, with a peculiar wink, which brought the color to Jenny's cheeks; while Mary exclaimed, "Oh, I'm so glad you can have your guitar again." Here the conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the carriage, which came for the young ladies, who were soon on their way to Mr.
Selden's, Mary wondering what the surprise was, and Jenny hoping William would call in the evening.

At the door they met Ida, who was unusually merry,--almost too much so for the occasion, it seemed to Mary, as she glanced at Jenny's pale, dispirited face.

Aunt Martha, too, who chanced to cross the hall, shook Mary's hand as warmly as if she had not seen her for a year, and then with her broad, white cap-strings flying back, she repaired to the kitchen to give orders concerning the supper.
Mary did not notice it then, but she afterwards remembered, that Ida seemed quite anxious about her appearance, for following her to her room, she said, "You look tired, Mary.

Sit down and rest you awhile.
Here, take my vinaigrette,--that will revive you." Then as Mary was arranging her hair, she said, "Just puff out this side a little more;--there, that's right.