She rang the door-bell a little timidly, for the last time she saw her sister, she had been treated with so much coldness, that she now felt some anxiety with regard to the reception she was likely to meet.
"Is Miss Campbell at home ?" she asked of the girl who answered her ring.
"Yes, she's at home," replied the girl, "but is busy dressing for company." "Tell her her sister is here, if you please.

I won't detain her long," said Mary, trying hard to shake off the tremor which always came upon her, when she found herself in Mrs.Campbell's richly furnished house.
Conducting Mary into the parlor, the girl departed with her message to Ella, who, together with the young lady whom Mr.Knight had styled a "white-eyed pucker," but whose real name was Eliza Porter, was dressing in the chamber above.

The door of the room was open, and from her position, Mary could hear distinctly every word which was uttered.
"Miss Ella," said the girl, "your sister is in the parlor, and wants to see you." "My sister," repeated Ella, "oh, forlorn! What brought her here to-day?
Why didn't you tell her I wasn't at home ?" "I never told a lie in my life," answered the honest servant girl, while Miss Porter in unfeigned surprise said "Your sister! I didn't know you had one.

Why doesn't she live at home ?" Concealment was no longer possible, and in a half vexed, half laughing tone, Ella replied, "Why, I thought you knew that I was an orphan whom Mrs.Campbell adopted years ago." "You an orphan!" returned Miss Porter.

"Well, if I ever! Who adopted your sister ?" "A poor woman in the country," was Ella's answer.
Miss Porter, who was a notorious flatterer, replied, "I must see her, for if she is any thing like you, I shall love her instantly." "Oh, she isn't like _me_" said Ella, with a curl of her lip.