Mrs.
Applegate again murmured something about uniting in prayer.
Maria came hurrying down-stairs.

She had in her hand her purse, which contained ten dollars, which her father had given her on her birthday, also a book of New York tickets which had been a present from Ida, and which Ida herself had borrowed several times since giving them to Maria.

Maria herself seldom went to New York, and Ida had a fashion of giving presents which might react to her own benefit.

Maria, as she passed the parlor door, glanced in and saw her step-mother rocking and staring at the vase.

Then she was out of the front-door, racing down the street with Wollaston Lee and Gladys hardly able to keep up with her.