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they took their fishing-rods and went to the place which Milly had chosen. It was a pretty spot in the wood, on the bank of the river. Edith said she could not stand watching her rod all the time, so she should fix it, and then sit down comfortably to read, and Emma said she should do the same. They found a delightful seat, and took out a book which they were reading together. Meanwhile Annie and Milly thought it better fun to stay with David and watch for a fish.

'How stupid of Edith to leave her rod, to sit there reading with Emma Ray,' said Milly.

'Let them do as they like, it does not hurt us,' replied David; the rods must fish for themselves.'

'It is rather poky of them, though, to read now in their holidays, when they are dosed with books at school,' said Annie.

'Do you like Emma Ray very much?' asked Milly.

'Yes I do,' answered Annie, 'she is a very nice She is most girl indeed, and terribly clever. especially Edith's friend, because I don't profess to be so studious as they are.'

Well, I don't expect that Emma cares for you

very much, by what I heard her say this morning,'

said Milly.

'You couldn't have heard her say anything against me, surely,' replied Annie.

'I heard her say,' continued Milly, 'that she thought Annie very deceitful, and then they said something more, but I did not hear it, as David called me away just then.'

'When did you hear her say it?' asked Annie. 'Just after they had sat down to read,' answered Milly.

'I should like to know in what way she thinks me deceitful,' said Annie indignantly, 'and I shall just find out, too. I did not know that Emma was a hypocrite, but she must be, if she says such things behind my back, when she is so sweet to my face.'

I say, Milly, what a goose you were to say anything about it!' said David, as soon as Annie was out of the way. 'It's very silly to tell tales like that, you know; because, what's the good? It has only made Annie vexed. If a boy at school did that sort of thing, he would be called a tell-tale-tit, and would soon have it knocked out of him.'

'I am sure I am not a tell-tale-tit,' answered Milly, getting very red, and beginning to cry.

'Well, never mind, old girl,' said her brother, kissing her, I didn't mean to say that you were, only I thought it a pity you said that. It can't do any good to make people think unkindly of each other. Cheer up, now, I did not want to make you unhappy. Look out, hush! here's a fish coming!'

But Milly could not cheer up all at once, for her pride was wounded. She could not manage to be cross very long, however, because David was so merry. He had practised the art of fishing rather more than the girls had, so he was the only one to catch a fish, which he took home for dinner.