pen to have a sixpence," said Alex, with an honest
openness, overcoming his desire to add "in my pocket." It cost him
an effort; for at school, where each slight advantage was noted,
and comparisons perpetually made, Fred's superior wealth and larger
allowance had secured him the adherence of some; and though he either
knew it not, or despised such mammon worship, his rival was sufficiently
awake to it to be uncomfortable in acknowledging his poverty.

"Every one is poor at the end of the half," said Fred, tossing up his
purse and catching it again, so as to demonstrate its lightness. "Here
is a sixpence, though, at her Majesty's service."

"And do you think she would take your last sixpence, you honour to
loyalty?" said Beatrice, feeling in her pocket. "We are not fallen quite
so low. But alas! the royal exchequer is, as I now remember, locked up
in my desk at home."

"And my purse is in my workbox," said Henrietta.

"So, Fred, I must be beholden to you for the present," said Beatrice,
"if it won't quite break you down."

"There are more where that came from," said Fred, with a careless air.
"Come along, Alex."

Away they went. "That is unlucky," soliloquised Queen Bee: "if I could
have sent Alex alone, it would have been all right, and he would have
come back again; but now one will carry away the other, and we shall see
them no more."

"No, no, that would be rather too bad," said Henrietta. "I am sure Fred
will behave better."

"Mark what I say," said Beatrice. "I know how it will be; a dog or a gun
is what a boy cannot for a moment withstand, and if we see them again
'twill be a nine days' wonder. But come, we must to the work; I want to
look at your wreath."

She did not, however, work quite as cheerily as before, and lost much
time in running backwards and forwards to peep out at the door, and
in protesting that she was neither surprised nor annoyed at the
faithlessness of her envoys. At last a droll little frightened knock was
heard at the door. Beatrice went to open it, and a whitey-brown paper
parcel was held out to her by a boy in a green canvas round frock, and
a pair of round, hard, red, solid-looking cheeks; no other than Dame
Reid's grandson.

"Thank you," said she. "Did Master Alexander give you this?"

"Ay."

"Thank you, that's right!" and away he went.

"You see," said Queen Bee, holding up the parcel to Henrietta, who came
out to the porch. "Let us look. O, they have vouchsafed a note!