The next morning when she awoke she found Mr.Parker's prediction verified, for the clouds were pouring rain.

"Billy won't come to-day," was her first thought, and throwing herself upon the floor she burst into tears, wishing as she had once done before that she had died with her mother.
In the midst of her grief the door was pushed hastily open, and Mrs.
Grundy's harsh voice exclaimed, "Wall, so you are up at last, hey?
I didn't know but you was goin' to take it upon you to sleep over, but that don't answer here." "Is it after breakfast time ?" asked Mary.
"After breakfast time," repeated Mrs.Grundy.

"No, but I guess you'll find there's something to do before breakfast, or did you think we's goin' to support you in idleness ?" Here, touched perhaps by the pale, tearful face uplifted to hers, Mrs.
Grundy's voice softened, and in a milder tone she added, "We won't mind about it, seein' it's the first morning, but come, you must be hungry by this time." Although so poor, Mrs.Howard had been extremely neat and as she said "cold water cost nothing," she had insisted upon her children's being very nice and particular in their morning toilet.

Mary remembered this, and now casting a rueful glance around the room she said, "I wonder where I am going to wash me." The loud, scornful laugh which followed this remark made her look up amazed at Mrs.Grundy, who replied, "In the back room sink, of course.
May-be you expected to have a china bowl and pitcher in your room, and somebody to empty your slop.

I wonder what _airs_ paupers won't take on themselves next." "I didn't mean to take airs," said Mary; "I don't care where I wash myself, but Alice is sick, and mother had me bathe her every morning.
While we were at Mrs.Bender's, though, I didn't do it, and I don't think she seems as well." "Pride and poverty," muttered Mrs.Grundy.