times, but I _must_ keep it now, much as I
want to go out skating. Can't you put off your party until the
afternoon?"

"Not a bit of it!" said Hugh. "Come Walt, come Carrie, let us be off."

"I think I will stay with Jessie this morning," replied Carrie; "and I
invite you, young gentlemen, to beau us to the skating-ground, this
afternoon!"

"If you won't go now, you may beau yourselves for all we," retorted Hugh
in his usual ungracious way, when treating with his sister.

"Don't say _so_, Hugh," responded Walter. "It's hardly polite. 'Spose you
and I go without the girls this morning, and _with_ them this afternoon?
Eh?"

"As you please!" growled Hugh, swinging his skates; "only let us be off
quick."

The boys now left, promising to go with the girls at half-past two in the
afternoon. Carrie laid aside her hood and cloak, which Jessie took, and
laid in a heap upon the table.

"My dear!" observed Mrs. Carlton, who looked into the room just at that
moment; "is _that_ the place for Carrie's things?"

A blush tinged Jessie's cheek. As I have said before, a want of regard for
order, was a fault which grew out of her impulsive nature. She did most
things in a hurry, and usually with some other object before her mind at
the same time. While her uncle had been trying to cure her of the habit of
yielding to her impulses, her mother had also been endeavoring to
stimulate her to cultivate a love of order. No wonder, then, that she
blushed as she went to hang her friend's hood and cloak on the stand in
the hall.

All this time, poor Madge had sat almost unnoticed. So taken up were they
all with their skating party, that they had overlooked the quiet maiden,
sitting so demurely on her cricket. But now the boys were gone, and the
two friends took their seats, Jessie's thoughts came back to the young
outcast, and turning to Carrie, she said:

"Carrie, let me introduce you to Madge Clifton."

"How do you do, miss?" said Carrie, bowing.

Poor Madge did not know much about introductions, and was unused to
company. So she only blushed, hung down her head, and replied:

"Pretty well, thank ye."

Jessie now took Carrie aside, and in whispers told her poor Madge's story,
after which they resumed their seats. Carrie's warm heart soon melted away
the poor outcast's fears; and while the two young ladies were merrily
prattling away, Madge listened with wonder if not with delight. In fact,
her life since last evening seemed mor