Polly had no trouble on her mind when Mrs. Talcott left the house after an hour’s call. She knew from the visitor’s gentle, sweet face and manner, as well as from her beautiful black silk gown that she was another grand person like Miss Hetty. Polly had often seen Mrs. Talcott at church in the distance, and had admired her from the Manser pew, which was in the gallery back where the shadows gathered. Polly had once watched a sunbeam dance on a violet bow in Mrs. Talcott’s bonnet. “How do you do, my dear?” the visitor had asked, when Miss Pomeroy presented “little Mary Prentiss” to her. “I’m sure I have caught a glimpse of you now and then at church. I believe you don’t go to the Number Three school with my children, do you?” “I am very well, thank you, ma’am,” said Polly, sedately, though her dimples showed. “Yes’m, I have seen you in church; the sun comes in the gallery window and dances on your bonnet sometimes, just as pretty. No, ma’am, I go to Number Four, where there are just five boys and nobody else but me. The teacher says it’s hardly worth while to keep a school for five sprawling boys that will be farmers when all’s said and done, and one little girl that’s nobody,” said Polly, quoting Mrs. Manser without a touch of injured feeling, “but we’re out of the other districts, the Higgins boys and I are, ma’am.” Mrs. Talcott flushed, and drew the little girl to her side. “I’ve brought you a present, Mary,” she said, putting a box into Polly’s hands. “My children always like a surprise, and I knew you wouldn’t be expecting this; it’s very pure candy,” said Mrs. Talcott, looking over Polly’s head to Miss Pomeroy for approval, “it cannot possibly hurt her.” It seemed too good to be true, but there were dozens of the delicious chocolate drops in the box. Polly’s cheeks grew crimson as she saw them. “Mrs. Deacon Talcott,” she said, lifting her shining eyes to this wonderful visitor. “I expect I don’t know how to thank you right, but I do wish I did! I’ve had so many presents now, you could hardly believe. It began before I left Manser Farm. I had new clothes, bought right out of the store, the gingham was, and nobody had ever worn it before. I wish I had one of those dresses on, to show you,” said Polly, who had been advised by Miss Pomeroy to keep on her red frock under a white apron for the afternoon. “Never mind, my dear,” said Miss Pomeroy, exchanging a quick glance with her caller. “Mrs. Talcott may see it some other day.”