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went home, feeling dull and unhappy, but hoping that Amy was only rather tired after her party, and would be all right again soon.

'Well, what has Elsie been saying to you this morning?' asked Amy, as soon as her friend was gone.

'Oh, she wanted to know why you were so dreadfully cross to her this morning?' answered Milly.

'Is that all?' asked Amy.

'She said you were very silly,' added Milly. Well, she had better not talk!' said Amy, pettishly.

'I daresay she likes you in her way,' continued Milly.

'But in a very queer way,' answered Amy. 'I declare I will never believe anything she says again.'

At this moment Mrs. Ferrar came into the room to tell the children that they might go for a drive after dinner.

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Where is little Elsie?' she asked, 'I hope she is not gone.'

'Yes, I think she has,' answered Amy.

'You think so? but don't you know, dear?' asked her mamma.

'You did not ask her to stay, mamma, so she did not know that she might,' replied Amy.

'You should have come and asked me,' said Mrs. Ferrar. But what is the matter with you, Amy, you look quite sulky? I hope you have not been quarrelling.'

Amy did not answer, so Mrs. Ferrar asked Milly if anything was the matter.

'I think Elsie has been rather unkind to her,' answered Milly, looking down on the floor, as if she did not like telling of Elsie; but it was really to hide a blush.

'I am sorry to hear that,' said her aunt. 'Well, it is just as well then that I did not ask her to stay. We will drive over to call on Major and Mrs. Delson this afternoon.'

Milly and Amy enjoyed their drive very much, for it was a beautiful day. They found Mrs. Delson in, but not the Major, so they went in and sat with her for a little while.

Milly liked her very much; perhaps it was because her talk about other people, and things in general, was very amusing, and, besides, she took some notice of Milly, and asked her a good many questions, and finally invited Milly and

Amy to come over on Saturday, and spend the day with her children.

Saturday turned out to be a very fine day, so Milly and Amy drove over early in the morning to spend the day at the Grove.

The Delson children were all in the garden, waiting to receive their guests, and as soon as they came, they prepared for a good game of hide and seek.

'Who is that lady sitting in the summer-house?' Milly asked Julia Delson, as they were hiding together behind a hedge.

'That is Miss Best, our governess,' answered Julia.

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6 Do you like her?' asked Milly.

Middling,' answered Julia, 'but mamma says that she is certainly not the best of governesses.' 'Why do you only like her "middling”?' inquired Milly.

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All things by comparison,' answered Julia. 'Good, better, best, are the degrees. She may be good in her way, but thinks herself best. She is horribly strict; that's one thing I know. I don't much expect that she will stay with us very long. Hush, they will hear us talking.'

After dinner the children all went into a pretty wood which was close by, and picked primroses. When they came back they found tea laid out in the summer-house, which Mrs. Delson and Miss Best had managed to make look very pretty and tempting.

At seven o'clock, Milly and Amy went home, as they had a long drive, and Mrs. Delson had promised that they should not be out late.

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IN

EASTER HOLIDAYS.

ONDAY morning's post brought a letter for Milly from her mamma, telling her to come home the next day, as her sisters Edith and Annie were coming home from school for their Easter holiday, and her brother David was coming home on Wednesday for ten days. Milly was very delighted when she heard this, though she was sorry to have to go away so soon, and Amy was vexed to lose her, for now that she had thrown off her old friend Elsie, she would not have any one.

Milly went by herself in the afternoon to say good-bye to Elsie, whom she found sitting by herself in the garden, looking lonely and unhappy.

'You seem rather dull, Elsie dear,' said Milly.

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