s needful
difference between you; but in all our actions we must think of what
is _right_, and not of what it would be _pleasant_ to do. When I see
any sign of improvement in your sister, I shall gladly provide her
with a writing-desk; but not till then."

Emma paused for a moment; her eyes filled with tears, and the color
rose to her face. "Then mamma," said she, "I will wait, if you please,
for my work-box, until you think proper to give Louisa her desk.
Please to put it away in some safe place, and I will not say anything
about it. I can do very well without the box a little while longer,
you know."

When Mrs. Western found that Emma was willing to deny herself a
pleasure rather than give pain to her sister, she consented to her
wish, because she desired to encourage kind and tender feelings
between them; and she knew it would be easy to find some other way of
showing Louisa that her friends were grieved and displeased by her
conduct. So the work-box was safely put away for the present; though
Emma had her hopes that the time would soon come when, with the
promised writing-desk, it might be again brought forward.

CHAPTER VI.

TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS.

I have told you that Emma was not without her faults; and whether she
was a little lifted up by her mother's approval, so that she became
less watchful over herself, and felt less her need of the grace of
God, I cannot say: but so it was, that on the very same evening of
their mother's birthday, the sisters had a quarrel, which would
certainly have been worse, if Mrs. Western had not been sitting by.
Louisa was the first to blame; but, on the other hand, Emma did not
behave like a meek and Christian child.

It was about Louisa's old work-box that this quarrel took place. Emma
wished to have the use of it for a short time, as Louisa did not want
it herself: but Louisa, as you have seen, was not very willing to
lend; and some sharp and unkind words passed between them, such as
children too often use when they give way to angry and sinful
passions. No doubt the thought of her own work-box was in Emma's mind
when she said, "You are selfish and ill-natured, Louisa, and do not
deserve that people should give up any pleasure for you."

While she was speaking, she saw her mother's eyes turned toward her
with a look of surprise and sorrow; and at the same moment the words
of Scripture, "Be kindly affectioned one toward another," came into
her mind. She blushed