S'posin' I should do so--wouldn't it be a town's talk ?" Mary tried to get down, but Billy, greatly amused at the highly scandalized lady's distress, held her tightly, and Mrs.Grundy, slamming the door together, declared "she'd tell Mr.Parker, and that's the end on't." But no Mr.Parker made his appearance, and as the sun was getting towards the west, Billy ere long started up, saying, he must go now, but would come again next week.

Mary followed him down stairs, and then returning to her room cried herself into so sound a sleep that Mrs.Grundy was obliged to scream to her at least a dozen times to come down and set the supper table, adding as a finale, that "she wondered if she thought she was a lady boarder or what.".