as much as one of her scientific
pinches.

Hatty's tender side actually ached, but she made an effort to say,
gently, "Meg, you must be dreaming; wake up!"

"I am not asleep at all!" said Meg, pettishly. "I wish you would move!"

Hatty passed her hand along the seam of the sheet (Mrs. Lee used her
old-fashioned sheets on the children's beds) to assure herself that she
was on her own side of the bed, and then she was going to tell Meg that
it was _she_ who was out of place; but something checked her, and she
only said, pleasantly, "Never mind, Meg, where the middle of the bed
is,--you shall have all the room you want;" and making way for her little
friend with the sharp elbows, Hatty composed herself again to sleep,
with a far happier feeling than if she had contended for her rights.

Once she was going to say, "O Meg, it hurts me still where you punched
me," but she checked the words, and thought how trifling was such a pain
compared with the nails in the hands of our great example, who has bid
us follow him in his patience, as well as in perfect purity.

Hatty's long ride from her grandmother's, a distance of sixteen miles,
and the excitement of her return home, made her sleep very soundly, when
not disturbed, and she would gladly have continued her nap until the
rousing bell gave forth its summons.

Meg was something like the uneasy birds who twitter at midnight on their
perches, and wake at dawn to sing, as if they never knew the need of
rest.

By the first grey streak of morning she began to stir, and was soon wide
awake and full of glee at finding herself in her new quarters.

Hatty turned her back resolutely, but in vain. Meg was not to be so
easily disposed of. Hatty was going to say some hasty words to Meg, as
she twitched away from her, when Meg pleaded, "Do wake up, sister Hatty.
It is Sunday morning."

"Sunday morning!" that thought brought Hatty to herself--and making an
effort to throw off her sleepiness, she turned towards Meg, and said,
"Well, then, give me a nice kiss to begin the day."

Meg gave the kiss with real good will, and then, nestling up close to
Hatty, she began to talk as if her tongue needed violent exercise to
make up for being quiet all night.

Before many minutes were over, Hatty had set that little tongue at
Sunday work, repeating all the hymns and Bible verses that Meg had
learned during the three months that Hatty had been away from home.

Meg was full of eager questions