Forcythe  was  cheered  by  this  kindness,  but  Mary
could  not  be  cheerful.  She  had  to  sleep  upon  a
mattress  laid  on  the  floor.  At  another  time  this
would  have  been  fun,  but  now  it  did  not  seem
funny  at  all ;  it  was  only  part  and  parcel  of  the
misery  of  coming  to  live  in  Redding.  She  cried
herself  to  sleep,  and  came  down  in  the  morning
with  swollen  eyelids  and  a  disposition  to  make
the  very  worst  of  things,  —  easy  enough  for  anj
ghi  to  do  if  she  sets  about  it.
MISTRESS    MARY,  115

She  scarcely  thanked  her  father  when  he  went
out  and  bought  a  red  pot  for  the  unlucky  pansy,
which,  after  its  travels  and  its  night  in  brown
paper,  looked  as  disconsolate  as  Mary  herself.
''  I  know  it'll  die  right  away,"  she  muttered  as
she  set  it  on  the  window-sill.  "  Oh,  dear,  there's
mother  calling.     What  does  she  want  ?  "

"Mary,  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Forcythe  when  she
went  down,  "where  have  you  been?  I  want
you  to  put  away  the  dishes  for  me."

"  I'm  so  tired,"  objected  Mary  crossly.
"  Don't  you  think  that  mother  must  be  tired
too  ?  "  asked  her  father  gravely.
Mary  blushed  and  began  to  place  the  cups
and  plates  on  the  cupboard  shelves.  Her  slow
movements  attracted  her  father's  attention.
"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  he  said.  "  At  Valley
Hill  you  were  as  brisk  as  a  bee,  always  want-
ing to  help  in  every  thing.  Here  you  seem
unwilling  to  move.     How  is  it?"

"I  —  don't  —  like  —  Eedding,"  broke  oul
Mary  in  a  burst  of  petulance.
"  You  haven't  seen  it  yet,"


116        NINE  LITTLE  GOSLINGS.
