“Oh, a great deal more. What do you think would be the nicest thing you could have?”

“A Shetland pony?”

“No, far nicer.”

“A big Persian pussy-cat?”

“No, nicer still.”

Peggy began to dance with impatience. “Oh, do tell me; what is it?” she cried.

“Well, you will find a new sister at home, very small and pink, with blue eyes and a lot of nice black hair.”

Peggy received this description dumbly; indeed, she walked on for a few yards before she said bitterly,—

“O father, I’d have liked the Shetland pony ever so much better; couldn’t you change it yet? Is the sister much cheaper? I’ll give you my shilling!”

She was rather hurt by the way her father laughed at this proposal.