The Skating-Party.
“Now you can go skating with me, can’t you?” inquired Carrie Sherwood, as she pushed her little round face in at the door after dinner.
“Yes, now I can go,” replied Jessie. “I did ever so much on my slipper this morning, and shall get it done by the last of the week.”
“If you stick to it, but I know you won’t,” said Hugh, interrupting his sister.
Jessie felt a little anger stir in her heart on hearing this fling at a habit she was trying so so hard to overcome. But saying to herself, “never mind, I deserve it,” she merely gave Hugh a glance of reproof, and was silent.
“I say, that’s ungenerous, Mister Hugh,” observed Guy, taking up his sister’s case. “You know Jessie is learning to stick to her purposes, and that is more than anybody can say of you.”
“Don’t be too hard upon a fellow just for a joke,” replied Hugh, wincing under his brother’s hit.
“Well, don’t you throw stones at Jessie; at least, not so long as you live in a glass house yourself,” said Guy. Then turning to the girls, he added: “Come girls, get ready, and I’ll go with you to help Jessie try her new skates.”
“Oh, thank you, you dear good Guy!” replied Jessie, running to her brother and giving him a sweet sisterly kiss.
“I think I’ll go, too, if you’ll let me,” said Hugh.