Some boys would have rudely shaken her off, ashamed to be caressed by a little girl, but Billy's heart was full of kindly sympathy, and he returned her caresses as a brother would have done.
As he released her, he was startled at hearing some one call out, "Bravo! That, I conclude, is a country hug.

I hope she won't try it on me!" Turning about he saw before him a white-faced boy, nearly of his own age, whose dress and appearance indicated that he belonged to a higher grade, as far as wealth was concerned.

It was Henry Lincoln, notorious both for pride and insolence.

Billy, who had worked for Mr.Lincoln, had been insulted by Henry many a time, and now he longed to avenge it, but native politeness taught him that in the presence of Mary 'twould not be proper, so without a word to Henry he whispered to the little girl, "That fellow lives near here, and if he ever gives you trouble, just let me know." "Kissed her then, didn't you ?" sneeringly asked Henry, retreating at the same time, for there was something in Billy's eye, which he feared.
"Come into the house," said Mary, "where he can't see us," and leading the way she conducted him up to her own room, where there was no fear of being interrupted.
Alice was first carefully fixed in her cradle, and then kneeling down at Billy's side, and laying her arms across his lap, Mary told him of every thing which had happened, and finished by asking, "how long she must stay there." Had Billy's purse been as large as his heart, that question would have been easily answered.

Now he could only shake his head in reply, while Mary next asked if he had seen Ella.
"I have not seen her," returned he, "but I've heard that rainy as it was this morning, Mrs.Campbell's maid was out selecting muslins and jaconets for her, and they say she is not to wear black, as Mrs.
Campbell thinks her too young." Mary did not speak for some time, but her head dropped on Billy's knee and she seemed to be intently thinking.