“What should you care so much to see?” inquired Mr. Wilton.
“Why, I would give any thing to see a leopard or a camel.”
“A leopard or a camel!” repeated his father in the same tone in which George had made his rude speech; “I am sure I wouldn’t give a farthing to see either a camel or a leopard.”
“No,” said George, “because you have seen them both; but I never did.”
“Neither has Maria seen an elephant,” returned Mr. Wilton; “so what is the difference?”
George looked a little mortified at the overthrow of his argument. But still his eagerness for the gratification was not to be repressed.—“I shouldn’t think a girl need to care about going to see a parcel of wild beasts,” he remarked, rather petulantly, as he gave his chair a push, upon rising from the table.
“O, George, George.” expostulated his father, “I did not think you were either a selfish or a sullen boy.”
“No, father, and he is not,” said Maria, approaching her father, and taking his hand; “but he wants to go very much, and I do not care so much about it; so he may go, and I will stay at home.”
“You are a good girl,” said her father; “but I shall not consent to any such injustice; so go and get ready as quick as possible.”
“But, father, I had really a great deal rather that George should go,” insisted Maria.