lves; let that triumph
be moderate, that it may be lasting. Consider that, though you are good,
you may be better, and though wise, you may be weak.

As soon as Mrs. Villars had given her the bracelet, all Cecilia's little
companions crowded round her, and they all left the hall in an instant.
She was full of spirits and vanity--she ran on, running down the flight
of steps which led to the garden. In her violent haste, Cecilia threw
down the little Louisa. Louisa had a china mandarin in her hand, which
her mother had sent her that very morning; it was all broke to pieces by
the fall.

"Oh! my mandarin!" cried Louisa, bursting into tears. The crowd behind
Cecilia suddenly stopped. Louisa sat on the lowest step, fixing her eyes
upon the broken pieces; then turning round, she hid her face in her
hands upon the step above her. In turning, Louisa threw down the remains
of the mandarin; the head, which she had placed in the socket, fell from
the shoulders, and rolled bounding along the gravel-walk. Cecilia
pointed to the head and to the socket, and burst out laughing; the crowd
behind laughed too. At any other time they would have been more inclined
to cry with Louisa; but Cecilia had just been successful, and sympathy
with the victorious often makes us forget justice. Leonora, however,
preserved her usual consistency. "Poor Louisa!" said she, looking first
at her, and then reproachfully at Cecilia. Cecilia turned sharply round,
colouring, half with shame and half with vexation. "I could not help it,
Leonora," said she.

"But you could have helped laughing, Cecilia." "I didn't laugh at
Louisa; and I surely may laugh, for it does nobody any harm." "I am
sure, however," replied Leonora, "I should not have laughed if I
had----" "No, to be sure you wouldn't, because Louisa is your favourite.
I can buy her another mandarin the next time that old pedlar comes to
the door, if that's all. I _can_ do no more. _Can_ I?" said she,
turning round to her companions. "No, to be sure," said they, "that's all
fair."

Cecilia looked triumphantly at Leonora. Leonora let go her hand; she ran
on, and the crowd followed. When she got to the end of the garden, she
turned round to see if Leonora had followed her too; but was vexed to
see her still sitting on the steps with Louisa. "I'm sure I can do no
more than buy her another! _Can_ I?" said she, again appealing to her
companions.

"No, to be sure," said they, eager to begin their plays. How