“Jessie!”
“What is it, Uncle?” asked Jessie, surprised at her uncle’s manner.
“Shall I tell you plainly, why you feel so much disappointed in poor Madge?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Well, it is because your kindness to her was mixed with a good deal of selfishness.”
“O Uncle Morris!” exclaimed Jessie; “how can you say so?”
“Because I really think so;” replied Mr. Morris.
“Well, you are a funny man, if you think so, Uncle! How could I be selfish, in wishing you to bring that poor child home? I’m sure I didn’t expect to gain any thing by it.” Here Jessie pouted a little, for she was really piqued by what her uncle had said. Seeing this, Mr. Morris replied:
“I hope my little puss is not going to be angry with her poor old uncle, because he seeks to tell her the truth.”
“Well, no; but really, I don’t see how you can think me selfish, just for wishing you to bring a poor, freezing child, to our house,” and with this remark, Jessie forced back the smile which usually played round her lips, while she looked earnestly into her uncle’s eyes.