ERE is a letter for you, Milly,' said Mrs. Ellis one morning at breakfast, as she handed the letter to

her little daughter.

Really for me, mamma? Who can it be from?' exclaimed Milly, as she eagerly took the letter.

'One for me, too?' asked little Jamie, holding out his hand for one.

No, you are not old enough to have letters,' answered Milly, as she tore open her own.

'Am, as much as you!' replied Jamie.

'It is from cousin Amy,' continued Milly, as soon as she had read the letter; and it is to ask Jamie and me to go and stay there next week for a few days. Won't that be fun, Jamie? will let us go, won't you, mamma ?'

You

'Let me see the letter, dear,' said her mamma. Milly blushed and seemed rather confused, and answered hastily that there was nothing particular in the letter besides the invitation.

'But I want to see what she says about it,' replied her mamma.

'Shall I read it to you, mamma?' asked Milly. Why do you not wish me to see it for myself?' asked Mrs. Ellis. 'Pass it, dear, I wish to see it.'

Milly passed the letter to her mamma to read, looking rather frightened as she did so.

as follows:

It was

'MY DEAR MILLY,-Mamma says that I may write and ask you and Jamie to come and stay with me for a few days next week, if auntie will let you come. Do beg her to let you, because I want you particularly to be here for my birthday party, which is on Wednesday. I am longing

to see you, that I may hear all the news which

you say you want to tell me. going to have a governess?

Are you really

I am very glad

that I am not, for I have often heard that they are horribly strict.

'Do write soon, dear Milly, and tell me that you are coming. With best love from Eva and myself,-Believe me, your affectionate cousin, 'AMY FERRAR.' As soon as breakfast was over, Milly was running out of the room to fetch pen and paper to write an answer to her cousin, but her mamma called her back, saying that she wished to speak to her.

'Milly,' began Mrs. Ellis, 'I quite understand now why you did not wish me to see your letter this morning.'

Milly did not answer, but she hung her head, and her face was very red.

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But I do not understand,' continued her mamma, 'how you could have imagined that I was going to have a governess for you, as I have never thought of such a thing. Indeed, I think it will be much better for you to go to school.'

'But, mamma,' said Milly, hesitating

'I really thought you were.'

'No doubt you did,' answered her mamma, 'but I should like to know what made you think so.'

Milly's only answer was to begin to cry, so her mamma continued—

'It is no good crying, Milly, for I mean to know, and I shall not give you leave to stay with your cousin till you have told me all about it. I think I know what made you have that idea, but you must tell me yourself.'

་

'I heard you talking to Mrs. Foster the other day about a governess,' answered Milly, sobbing. 'I was not aware, Milly, that I had said anything to Mrs. Foster about having a governess for you,' said Mrs. Ellis.

'I did not hear all you said, mamma, because I only came into the room for a minute to fetch a book,' replied Milly, but I heard you talking about a governess, so I thought it was for me.'

6

No wonder you were ashamed for me to find that you had been talking of what you knew nothing about, especially after the many times that I have spoken to you about this dreadful fault of gossiping, Milly,' said her mamma gravely.