Mrs.
Campbell, to whom the matter was referred, decided upon the delaine, consequently Ella cried and pouted, saying she wouldn't go, wondering what Alice wanted to be sick for, or any way why they should send for her.
Meantime in and around the poor-house there was for once perfect silence.

Sal Furbush had been invisible for hours,--the girl with crooked feet trod softly as she passed up and down the stairs,--Uncle Peter's fiddle was unstrung, and, securely locked in his fiddle box, was stowed away at the bottom of his old red chest,--and twice that morning when no one saw her, Miss Grundy had stolen out to Patsy's grave.

Mary was not called to wash the dishes, but up in her own room she sat with her head resting upon the window sill, while the sweet, fresh air of the morning swept over her face, lifting the hair from her flushed brow.

Billy Bender was standing near her, his arm thrown around her, and his lips occasionally pressing her forehead.
Suddenly there was the sound of carriage wheels, and he whispered in her ear, "Ella is coming." Hastily running down the stairs, Mary met her sister in the doorway, and throwing her arms around her neck, burst into tears.

Ella would gladly have shaken her off, for she felt that her curls were in danger of being mussed, and she had besides hardly recovered from her pet.
But Mary firmly held her hand, and led her on through the long hall, into a room which they usually denominated "the best room." There, upon the table, lay a little stiffened form.