l; "and did you really intend it for me?"

"See how ready I am to forgive and forget," said Pride, with a wicked,
mocking smile, as he saw the guileless child lay her hand on the
poisoned gift; "you have spoken against me, tried to drive me away--nay,
at this very moment, I believe, you would not suffer me to enter your
door--and yet I bring you this cage that you may never lose your
Content; that you may see it grow greater and greater, and never fly
from your home!"

"You are very good," began Nelly, and stopped short; she was startled at
the sound of her own words.

"Yes, I am _very good_, am I?" laughed Pride, as he turned away from the
window, and then began to stalk down the hill, muttering to himself as
he walked, "Ay, she will think me very good, doubtless, when she
sees--as she will see before morning--her beautiful, her cherished
Content gasping and swelling in the agonies of death!" and as in thought
he enjoyed his barbarous triumph, how hideous grew the dark features of
Pride.

But the wicked one was blowing the trumpet of victory before the battle
had been won! Nelly, indeed, looked with admiration and pleasure upon
the glittering cage, and was about to place her favourite within it,
when a thought arrested her hand. "My mother has warned us very often to
have nothing to do with Pride; Duty has told me again and again that
nowhere upon earth could I find a more dangerous companion than he.
Ought I to accept this gift? is it suitable, is it right, to take a
present from one whom I dare not invite to enter my cottage? Oh, surely
I have done wrong in listening with such pleasure to his flattering
words! What should I do now; what would Duty counsel me to do? I will
return to him his beautiful cage, and keep nothing, however charming,
that ever belonged to Pride!"

Catching up the tempting gift, Nelly hastened out of her cottage and saw
Pride descending the hill.

"Pride! Pride!" she called out as loudly as she could. The dark one
pretended not to hear, and only quickened his steps.

"Oh, how shall I ever overtake him," thought lame Nelly; and again she
called, but in vain, while she followed as fast as she could.

"Had I not better keep and use the cage, since it is so hard to return
it?" thought Nelly. Inclination bade her go back, and imprison Content
within the glittering bars; but the recollection of Duty was strong, and
exerting her utmost efforts, the child succeeded in overtaking Pride
when he