She wanted to tell him about the letter herself; but in this she was disappointed, for Selina, having finished all the housework she was capable of doing, had earned the right to go and meet her father at the railway station, and Mrs. Brown would not deprive her of this justly earned pleasure.
As she was going out, however, Minnie said, "Now don't tell father everything there is in that letter, because I know mother wants to tell some of it herself."
"Do you, mother?" asked the little girl.
"Well, yes. I think I should like to tell father something of it," replied Mrs. Brown.
Selina paused and looked puzzled. "Why didn't you tell me that I couldn't go and meet dad to-day," she asked.
"Because that wouldn't be quite fair," said her mother, "I always let you go out for an hour when you have done your housework properly, and as I have had no fault to find with you to-day, you have the right to go and meet your father if you like."
"Yes. But she need not go and tell him everything, as she generally does," put in Minnie, who did not see why her mother should be deprived of all the pleasure of imparting the pleasant news, because she would be strictly fair to Selina.
To this appeal from her sister the little girl hesitated to reply. Half the pleasure of going to meet her father would be taken away if she could not tell him all the wonderful news in the letter. At last she said, looking up into her mother's face—
"May we do it between us, mother? You tell half and I tell half."
Mrs. Brown laughed.