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'I am very sorry to find that you have been doing it again. You have no idea, my child, to what mischief this fault may lead. The habit of gossiping, and repeating things incorrectly, does a very great deal of harm in the world, and I should indeed be grieved to think that a child of mine would grow up with such a terrible fault. You must really try to stop it, Milly, for if you do not do so at once, you will one day be very sorry for it.'

By this time Milly was in tears, so her mamma did not say any more, hoping that her little girl was sorry and would not do it again. She gave Milly leave to write to her cousin, and to say that she and Jamie would be able to go on Tuesday

next.

They both looked forward to the day very much, and Milly was busily employed during the four days which remained before Tuesday in helping to make her new dress for the party, as her mamma liked her to learn to make her own things. Milly did not dislike this, as long as it was something a little bit smart that she was going to wear; though she hated plain work.

Milly and Jamie were both in very high spirits

when Tuesday really did come. They were to drive over in the carriage, as their aunt lived about five miles from their house. They arrived there in time for dinner, and their cousins Amy and Eva were delighted to see them. After dinner they all went out to play croquet in the garden, but after they had had one game, Amy asked Milly to come and walk with her, as she wanted to have a little talk, for Amy was as fond of hearing gossip as Milly was of telling it.

'Well, what about the governess whom you told me you were going to have?' began Amy. 'Oh, she isn't coming, after all,' answered Milly.

'Why not?' asked Amy.

'Mamma says she shall send me to school instead,' replied Milly.

'What made her change her mind?' said Amy. Well, mamma was inquiring for a governess for Mrs. Foster when I thought it was for me,' replied Milly, ‘and she was dreadfully angry with me for thinking that it was for me.'

'Was she?' said Amy, 'how could you help thinking it?'

'Of course I couldn't, but mamma is very

strict with me, you know,' said Milly, 'and she seemed to think it very wicked of me to suppose that I was to have a governess.'

'Well, I am glad that I am not kept so strictly,' replied Amy, but your mamma always looks so kind, Milly, I can hardly fancy her at all cross.'

'I advise you to take care how you write to me,' said Milly, 'for mamma always will look at my letters, and she makes remarks upon them too, so you had better be careful what you say to me.'

'I think we had better go on with our game now, or the others will miss us,' said Amy, after they had been twice round the garden. ‘I just wanted to know if there was any news.'

'I know lots I could tell you,' answered Milly, 'but mamma says I may not talk about things.'

'If you are not to talk about anything, you may as well have your lips glued together at once,' said Amy, pertly.

'But she says that I talk about things that I do not know anything about,' replied Milly, 'and that I am not to do so any more.'

'I do not want you to tell me anything that you know nothing about,' said Amy, laughing.

'You were wrong about the governess, certainly, but now you will be all the more careful not to make a mistake.'

'Very well, we can have a little chat when we are going to bed to-night, as we sleep together,' answered Milly.

Amy was satisfied with this promise, so they amused themselves happily for the rest of the afternoon.

HE first chapter has already shown what Milly's character was. She little

knew what a dangerous fault hers was, of gossiping, and repeating things that she had heard, however small and trifling they might seem. Her mamma had warned her many times. to check it, and had sometimes punished her, but Milly did not improve, for it would seem that she was determined to learn for herself the bitter fruits of mischief-making.

The next day was Amy's birthday, so the children were in a state of great excitement, and very busy making preparations for the party in the evening. The visitors were to come at five o'clock. They were to have an early tea, and then play a few games till half-past seven, when