"But she felt very faint and weak after the pain, and so I persuaded her to keep quiet till dinner, and let me hear the little girls. She said I might if Miss McPherson was willing. So I asked her, and she said I might. The children were very good and said their lessons nicely, and I rewarded them with the very new and original narration of King Alfred burning the oat-cakes, with which they were as hugely delighted as if nobody had heard it before. And, in fact, though it is hard to believe it, I suppose a story is new to every child that hears it for the first time;" with which original reflection Calista concluded her own story. "Well, I must say, I think it was odd in Miss McPherson to send you," said Mary, in a tone which trembled a little in spite of herself. "I wonder what I could have done to displease her?" "Nothing, I presume," answered Calista, in surprise. "Why should you think so?" "Because she has always asked me to hear the scholars in the little room before, and I don't see why she should choose some one else." "Why, goosie, because I went to her. Miss Meeks told me to ask her, and of course she said yes. Besides, you were busy, and I was not. I learned all my lessons before I came to school. What could be more natural?" "I don't believe it was that," said Mary, her voice shaking more and more. "She is displeased about something. I am sure I have always done my best with the little girls. If I have not told them stories and amused them, I have tried to have them learn, and it is very hard to have anybody put over my head without giving me any reason." Mary was fairly crying. "Mary, you are too silly for anything," said Calista, vexed for the moment. "Nobody has been put over your head. Don't you see how naturally it all happened? Suppose I had asked Miss McPherson, and she had said, 'No, I prefer Miss Settson should do it;' do you think I should cry about it? Not I. I should just have thought, 'Mary has had more experience; it is natural Miss McPherson should prefer her.'" "That is just what I say. I have had more experience." "You had not more experience when you began, I suppose. There must be a first time. I dare say Miss McPherson thought it would be a good lesson for me." "I am sure Miss McPherson would not have chosen some one else unless she had something against me," continued Mary. "She acted as if she had yesterday. She praised Mary Burns's work up to the skies, though it only a rug made of bits out of her father's shop, and all she said to mine was, 'Yes, very pretty, my dear.'" "Well, you know Mary is poor, and has very little to give, and I do think her rug is wonderful, considering what it is made of. It looks like a bit of Persian carpet. I have always noticed what a good eye Mary has for colors. She would paint better than Clary Whitman if she had the chance to learn."