greeable, and Maggie almost wished herself at home again. Dinner-time
came. Mrs. Buxton dined in her own room. Mr. Buxton was hearty, and jovial,
and pressing; he almost scolded Maggie because she would not take more than
twice of his favorite pudding: but she remembered what her mother had said,
and that she would be watched all day; and this gave her a little prim,
quaint manner, very different from her usual soft charming unconsciousness.
She fancied that Edward and Master Buxton were just as little at their ease
with each other as she and Miss Harvey. Perhaps this feeling on the part of
the boys made all four children unite after dinner.

"Let us go to the swing in the shrubbery," said Frank, after a little
consideration; and off they ran. Frank proposed that he and Edward should
swing the two little girls; and for a time all went on very well. But
by-and-by Edward thought, that Maggie had had enough, and that he should
like a turn; and Maggie, at his first word, got out.

"Don't you like swinging?" asked Erminia.

"Yes! but Edward would like it now." And Edward accordingly took her place.
Frank turned away, and would not swing him. Maggie strove hard to do it,
but he was heavy, and the swing bent unevenly. He scolded her for what
she could not help, and at last jumped out so roughly, that the seat hit
Maggie's face, and knocked her down. When she got up, her lips quivered
with pain, but she did not cry; she only looked anxiously at her frock.
There was a great rent across the front breadth. Then she did shed
tears--tears of fright. What would her mother say?

Erminia saw her crying.

"Are you hurt?" said she, kindly. "Oh, how your check is swelled! What a
rude, cross boy your brother is!"

"I did not know he was going to jump out. I am not crying because I am
hurt, but because of this great rent in my nice new frock. Mamma will be so
displeased."

"Is it a new frock?" asked Erminia.

"It is a new one for me. Nancy has sat up several nights to make it. Oh!
what shall I do?"

Erminia's little heart was softened by such excessive poverty. A best frock
made of shabby old silk! She put her arms round Maggie's neck, and said:

"Come with me; we will go to my aunt's dressing-room, and Dawson will give
me some silk, and I'll help you to mend it."

"That's a kind little Minnie," said Frank. Ned had turned sulkily away. I
do not think the boys were ever cordial again that day; for, as Frank said
to his mother, "N