"I would rather settle it first," answered Amy, firmly; "I should not have any pleasure in knowing it if I thought Margaret were mistaken about me."
"Well I never mind now," said Margaret, "I am not going to speak treason; and you are so good-natured, Amy, I am sure you will never repeat anything to get us into a scrape."
"Perhaps I am not good-natured," persisted Amy; "so pray don't tell me unless you quite like it."
"But I do quite like it, now; and I am sure you are good-natured, and so you shall hear. I want to tell you what Emily Morton did last year on papa's birthday, and then I know you will hate her as much as we do. We have always had quite a fete given then; for papa says it was begun when he came of age, and he does not like to give it up."
"Oh!" said Amy, "that must have been what mamma was telling me about the other day; she gave me a long account of it."
"And did not aunt Herbert think it very delightful?" asked Dora. "Papa always speaks of it with such pleasure."
"Yes," answered Amy; "she says it was one of the happiest days of her life."
"It must be very nice," continued Dora, "to have every one looking up to one and envying one. I dare say aunt Herbert wished she had been papa."
"She said she wished it then," replied Amy; "but I am sure she does not now."
"What!—not to have two great houses, and heaps of servants, and plenty of money?" said Margaret.