hould be glad to sit up.

"Only three weeks to the holidays," said Ethel, trying to be cheerful;
but his assent was depressing, and she began to fear that Christmas
would only make them more sad.

Mary did not keep Tom's secret so inviolably, but that, while they were
dressing for tea, she revealed to Ethel where Harry was gone. He was
not yet returned, though his father and Richard were come in, and the
sisters were at once in some anxiety on his account, and doubt whether
they ought to let papa know of his disobedience.

Flora and Ethel, who were the first in the drawing-room, had a
consultation.

"I should have told mamma directly," said Flora.

"He never did so," sighed Ethel; "things never went wrong then."

"Oh, yes, they did; don't you remember how naughty Harry was about
climbing the wall, and making faces at Mrs. Richardson's servants?"

"And how ill I behaved the first day of last Christmas holidays?"

"She knew, but I don't think she told papa."

"Not that we knew of, but I believe she did tell him everything, and I
think, Flora, he ought to know everything, especially now. I never could
bear the way the Mackenzies used to have of thinking their parents must
be like enemies, and keeping secrets from them."

"They were always threatening each other, 'I'll tell mamma,'" said
Flora, "and calling us tell-tales because we told our own dear mamma
everything. But it is not like that now--I neither like to worry papa,
nor to bring Harry into disgrace--besides, Tom and Mary meant it for a
secret."

"Papa would not be angry with him if we told him it was a secret," said
Ethel; "I wish Harry would come in. There's the door--oh! it is only
you."

"Whom did you expect?" said Richard, entering.

The sisters looked at each other, and Ethel, after an interval,
explained their doubts about Harry.

"He is come in," said Richard; "I saw him running up to his own room,
very muddy."

"Oh, I'm glad! But do you think papa ought to hear it? I don't know
what's to be done. 'Tis the children's secret," said Flora.

"It will never do to have him going out with those boys continually,"
said Ethel--"Harvey Anderson close by all the holidays!"

"I'll try what I can do with him," said Richard. "Papa had better not
hear it now, at any rate. He is very tired and sad this evening! and
his arm is painful again, so we must not worry him with histories of
naughtiness among the children."

"No," said Ethel decidedly, "I am