David saw that something was the matter, and as he guessed the cause, he felt very vexed with Milly, and much inclined to call her a tell-tale-tit, but he was far too gentlemanly to call his sister by such names, or treat her in any way unkindly; so he thought it best to let it alone, as it did not concern him, only he took care that Emma should not feel that she was altogether disliked, and was particularly attentive to her.

Milly had been found out to be a tell-tale in several little ways lately, such as repeating what the servants said, letting out small secrets which she happened to know, and talking of other people's affairs. If Edith and Annie had been a little more wide awake, they would have seen that it was the same busy tongue which was at work making mischief between them and their friend. They were indeed making a mountain out of a mole-hill, and a mole-hill out of nothing, as will be seen.

Milly was not long in finding an opportunity of telling her mamma, with sundry exaggerations, all that Martha the housemaid had said, but she took care not to let out that she was in the kitchen

so near it. The next morning, Mrs. Ellis

was complaining that Martha was very slovenly, and did not do her work well, so Milly put in her word.

'Oh, mamma, Martha declares she shall leave the place, because she says you are so hard upon her, and she is being slaved to death here, and she won't put up with it any longer.'

'When did you hear her say this?' asked her

mamma.

'She told me so yesterday, just after you had been scolding her for something,' answered Milly. She has no business to talk to you in that way,' replied Mrs. Ellis, as she left the room.

Milly heard no more of this for a few days, so she hoped that her mamma had not found out that she had been talking to the servants in the kitchen, but one morning nurse said to her

Miss Milly, I think it is a great shame of you to go telling tales about the servants to mistress ; and now Martha is going to be sent away, all through you, and she is breaking her heart about it.'

'It is not all through me,' answered Milly, pertly, 'because Martha said herself that she would not stay here to be treated like a slave.'

'She only said that in a bit of a temper like,' answered nurse, and it is just too bad of you, Miss Milly, to go and make mischief of it to mistress. Martha, Jane, and Cook all call you little Miss Tittle-Tattle, and I think it is a pretty true name, Miss Milly.'

'I am sure I don't care,' answered Milly; but she did, for all that. After this she remained

sulky, as she had nothing to say for herself.

'I have three minds to tell your mamma how it came about, and I shall, if you don't tell her yourself, Miss Milly,' continued nurse, because I don't see why Martha should be sent away just through your mischievous tongue. Missus thought that she had been talking to you like this in the bedroom, when she had been doing nothing of the sort. She never said it to you at all.'

'Well, I cannot help what mamma thinks,' replied Milly, I never told her so.'

'I don't see why you should have said anything at all about it,' said nurse, Martha is always kind enough to you, and it was only through her good nature that she did not tell mistress how you came to hear it.'

'Well, she can tell if she likes! I never told

her not to,' said Milly, as she ran out of the room and banged the door. She went out into the garden, and found the others sitting in the summer-house, holding a council about something.

6

S Milly came near, they all stopped talking, and Annie remarked to Edith-'We do not want all we say made

public, do we?'

'Where is Emma?' asked Edith, I thought you were with her, Milly.'

'No, I have not seen her since breakfast, answered Milly.

6

She ought not to be left alone,' said Edith; suppose you go and find her, Milly.'

'Why can't you go?' replied Milly, crossly, 'she is your friend, not mine.'

'Hum,' said Annie.

'I don't want to go,' said Milly.

'Never mind, I'll find her,' said David, as he jumped up and ran off.