to hang them in the sun, and they'll sing
beautifully."

She went, and soon returned with a cage containing the little monias
sent by Willie from Calcutta.

"There Kitty," cried Belle; "those are the birds that wake us so early
every morning."

"Very likely," said Kitty; "bring them here. Goodness! what little
creatures they are!--do look at them, Mr. Bruce--they are sweetly
pretty."

"Put them down on the door-step, Fanny," said Ben, "so that we can see
them better."

"I'm afraid you'll frighten them," replied Fanny; "Miss Gertrude doesn't
like to have them frightened."

"No, we won't," said Ben; "we're disposed to be very friendly to Miss
Gertrude's birds. Where did she get them? Do you know, Fanny?"

"Why, they are Indian birds; Mr. Sullivan sent them to her."

"Who is he?"

"Oh, he is a very particular friend; she has letters from him every
little while."

"What Mr. Sullivan?" asked Belle. "Do you know his Christian name?"

"I suppose it's William," said Fanny. "Miss Emily always calls the birds
little Willies."

"Belle!" exclaimed Kitty, "that's your William Sullivan."

"What a favourite man he seems to be!" said Mr. Bruce, in a tone of
sarcasm; "the property of one beautiful lady and the particular friend
of another."

"I don't know what you mean, Kitty," said Belle, tartly. "Mr. Sullivan
is a junior partner of my father's, but I have not seen him for years."

"Except in your dreams, Belle," suggested Kitty. "You forget."

"Do you dream about Mr. Sullivan?" asked Fanny, fixing her eyes on Belle
as she spoke. "I mean to go and ask Miss Gertrude if she does."

"Do," said Kitty; "I'll go with you."

They ran across the entry into the dining room, and put the question at
the same time. Taken by surprise, Gertrude neither blushed nor looked
confused, but answered, quietly, "Yes, sometimes; but what do you know
of Mr. Sullivan?"

"Oh, nothing," answered Kitty; "only _some others do_, and we are
inquiring around to see how many there are;" and she ran back in triumph
to tell Belle she might as well be frank, like Gertrude, and plead
guilty to the weakness; it looked so much better than blushing and
denying it.

But it would not do to joke with Belle any longer; she was offended, and
did not conceal the fact. Mr. Bruce felt annoyed, and soon left, leaving
the two cousins to settle their difficulty as best they could. As soon
as he had gone, Belle folded up her work, and walked upstairs to her
r