d say.

_Henrietta._ Why, I must not exactly call you _mean_--But I cannot help
thinking you rather--_meanish_.

_Isabella._ I will not be called mean. My refusal proceeds from other
motives than you suppose.

_Henrietta._ Young ladies, I will be judged by you all. Is it natural
for a girl of fifteen, who likes cakes, and pastry, and every sort of
sweet thing, to be so very conscientious as to refuse to join in a
little bit of pleasure that can injure no one, that will never be
discovered, and that all her companions have assented to with few or no
scruples. No, no, Isabella, I believe that your only object in declining
to be one of our party, is to save your money.

_Isabella._ O, what injustice you do me!

_Henrietta._ Prove it to be injustice by joining us without further
objection.

_Miss Watkins._ Henrietta, we do not care for Isabella's money. Let her
keep it if she wishes. We can afford to entertain her as our guest. I
am sorry so much should have been said about it.

_Isabella_ (_taking her purse out of her bag._) There then; here are two
half-dollars. I will prove to you that I am neither mean nor selfish.

_All._ We will not take your money.

_Isabella._ Yes, take it.--Any thing rather than suspect me of what I do
not deserve. And now let me entreat, that in _my_ presence nothing more
may be said of this feast. Change the subject, and talk of something
else. Or, rather, I will retire to bed, and leave you to make your
arrangements for to-morrow night.

The real reason why Isabella Caldwell was so unwilling to be a
contributor to the expense of the feast, was, that she had intended
appropriating her pocket-money to a much better purpose. Her allowance
was a dollar a week; and she knew that a coloured woman, named Diana,
(who had formerly been a servant in her father's family before they
removed to the country) was now struggling with severe poverty. Diana
was the widow of a negro sailor who had perished at sea, and she was the
mother of three children, all too small to put out, and whom she
supported by taking in washing. But during a long illness brought on by
overworking herself, she lost several of her customers who had given
their washing to others. Isabella had solicited Mrs. Middleton to allow
her to employ Diana, rather than the woman who then washed for the
school. Mrs. Middleton readily consented.

The weather had become very cold, and Isabella saw with regret that
Diana came to fetch and