and when he had nothing more to grumble about, he tried to push Susy off her chair just as she had seated herself by his side.

'Go away, I don't want you!' he said.

'I shan't,' answered Susy, as she tried to give Dick a push in return.

Dick was just going to get into a passion and give Susy a hard thump, which would have made her scream, and so have worried mamma, but Minnie stopped him in time.

She took Susy to sit by her on one side and Dick on the other, and told them to try to be very good and not make a noise, because it would make poor mamma's headache worse. Then they were quite good, for they wanted dear mamma to be better.

After breakfast she put on their hats, and took them all out into the garden. Motty, who was a year younger than herself, said he would make a gipsy tent for them if they had a big shawl; so Susy went in to ask nurse for one.

'I must be the man gipsy,' said Motty, and I shall have to go and find food for you.'

'You won't climb up any trees?' said Minnie anxiously.

Oh yes, that's just the fun,' answered Motty. 'But please don't, just till Emily comes back,' said Minnie, because if you hurt yourself, she would not trust me again.'

'All right, then, as you are the missis of us, I won't frighten you,' said Motty good-naturedly.

Presently Emily came down to tell them that it was lesson-time, and Miss Wescott had come, so they must run in quickly.

Minnie set the example by going in directly Emily had spoken; so the others did the same.

Emily saw at once by the children's bright and good-tempered faces that Minnie had been doing her best to be useful during the last hour; and when Minnie had got out the books and put everything ready to begin lessons, her elder sister gave her a kiss, and told her to go on as well as she had begun.

Minnie thought how much pleasanter it was to be useful, than to be a trouble to people, and she made up her mind never to be that, if she could help it.

Miss Wescott was daily governess to the children, and she always came at ten o'clock, to stay till one.

As soon as she came into the room, Emily said

'I am sorry, Miss Wescott, that I shall not be able to help you this morning with the lessons, as mamma wants me particularly, but I hope that you will find the children good,' and as she spoke she caught sight of one bright little face, which looked as if it meant to be very good indeed.

'That is nicely done, Minnie. I see that you have been taking pains with it,' said Miss Wescott, when Minnie showed her the copy which she had just written. 'Show Susy the way to hold her slate-pencil, for she is holding it in such a funny way.'

May I hear Dick say his A B C, while you are looking at the copies?' asked Minnie.

'Yes, dear, I shall be very glad if you will,' answered Miss Wescott.

While Minnie and Motty were reading their English History together, Susy and Dick, who were generally Emily's pupils, were allowed to look at the big scrap-book which was kept in the cupboard on purpose for them.

Miss Wescott was pleased to find that the read

ing was far more cheerfully done than usual today, and that Minnie seemed to be taking more interest in it than she had ever done before; and besides, there had been no grumbles and cross looks at being told to do what she did not like, as there often were, for Minnie was not a child who was fond of lessons, but very fond of play. It is nice to see children enjoying a good game, but they enjoy it much better when they know that they have done their lessons well, and deserve their pleasure.

When Minnie had finished her lessons, she found that she had done them so much sooner than usual, that she would have time to hear little Susy read and say her hymn, while Miss Wescott was helping Motty with his sums.

At one o'clock Emily came into the schoolroom to speak to Miss Wescott, who was able to tell her that they had all been good children; especially Minnie, who had been helping her with the little ones.

'But the lessons seemed so much nicer to-day,' answered Minnie, as she took up an armful of lesson books to put back on the shelf.

When she had finished putting away the books,

she refreshed herself by dancing round the room with Susy and Dick, and Motty after them, but she soon remembered that it must be too much noise for mamma's headache, and felt quite vexed with herself for having forgotten it for a minute. Then she ran up-stairs and knocked at her mamma's door, to ask if she might come in and see her.

'I am so sorry that you have a headache, dear mamma,' said Minnie, when she went into the

room.

'I am much better now, thank you, my darling,' answered mamma, and I am very pleased to think that I have got such a useful little girl, who has helped to make me better by letting Emily be with me.'

'I am so glad, dear mamma,' answered Minnie, as she kissed her.

'I am coming down after dinner,' continued her mamma, 'and shall sit out in the garden, because I think the air will do me good; and then I have something very nice to tell you.'

'Oh, have you really, mamma?' said Minnie eagerly, please tell me now, oh do, do!'

'Won't it be much nicer to wait till then, when