quadrille, but I suppose you leave it for Philip Carey!"

"If it comes at all you must start me, Bee," said Alex, "for I am sure I
can't dance with any one but you."

"Let me request it now," said Fred, "though why you should think I like
dancing I cannot imagine! I am sure nothing but your Majesty can make it
endurable."

"There are compliments to your Majesty," cried Henrietta, laughing; "one
will not or cannot dance at all without her, the other cannot find it
endurable! I long to see which is to be gratified."

"Time will show," said Beatrice; "I shall ponder on their requests,
and decide maturely, Greek against Prussian, lover of the dance against
hater of the dance."

"I don't love it, I declare," exclaimed Fred.

"I don't mind it, if you dance with me," said Alex.

And Beatrice was in her glory, teasing them both, and feeling herself
the object of attention to both.

Flirtation is not a pleasant word, and it is one which we are apt to
think applies chiefly to the manners of girls, vain of their personal
appearance, and wanting in sense or education. Beatrice would have
thought herself infinitely above it; but what else was her love of
attention, her delight in playing off her two cousins against each
other? Beauty, or the consciousness of beauty, has little to do with it.
Henrietta, if ever the matter occurred to her, could not help knowing
that she was uncommonly pretty, yet no one could be more free from any
tendency to this habit. Beatrice knew equally well that she was plain,
but that did not make the least difference; if any, it was rather on the
side of vanity, in being able without a handsome face, so to attract and
engross her cousins. It was amusing, gratifying, flattering, to feel
her power to play them off, and irritate the little feelings of jealousy
which she had detected; and thoughtless as to the right or wrong, she
pursued her course.

On reaching the church they found that, as was usual with her, she had
brought them before any one was ready; the doors were locked, and they
had to wait while Carey and John went to old Martha's to fetch the key.
In a few minutes more Mr. Franklin arrived, well pleased to see them
ready to fulfil their promise; the west door was opened, and disclosed a
huge heap of holly laid up under the tower, ready for use.

The first thing the boys did was to go up into the belfry, and out on
the top of the tower, and Busy Bee had a great mind to follow them; but
s