well it is
all stuff and nonsense!"

"Oh, how angry she is, my pretty pussy!" says Hatty, hiding her laughing
face behind the cat. "It was all nonsense, you know; but really, when
she gets into such a tantrum, I begin to think I must have hit the
white. What do you say, Pussy?"

I stamped on the garret floor.

"Hatty, will you take that hideous cat down and be quiet?" cried I.

"Dear, dear! To think of her calling you a hideous cat! Doesn't that
show how angry she is? People should not get angry--should they, Pussy?
She will box our ears next. I really think we had better go, my
darling tabby."

So off went Hatty with the cat in her arms, but as she was going down
the stairs, she said, I am sure for me to hear,--

"We will come some other time, won't we, Pussy? when the dragon is out
of her den: and we will have a quiet rummage, you and I; and we'll find
her love-letters!"

Now is not that too bad? What is one to do? Job could not have kept
his temper if he had lived with Hatty. I wish she would get married--I
do! Fanny never interferes with any one--she just goes her way and lets
you go yours. And when Sophy interferes, it is only because something
is left untidy, or you have not done something you promised to do. She
does not tease for teasing's sake, like Hatty.

And then, when I came down, after having composed my face, and passed
Hatty on my way into the parlour, what should she say but,--

"Didn't you wish I was in Heaven just now?"

"I should not have cared where you were, if you had kept out of the
garret!" said I.

Hatty gave one of her odious giggles, and away she went.

Now, how can I live at peace with Hatty, will anybody tell me?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am so delighted! My Aunt Kezia has come into my plan for having the
Bracewells here at Christmas, along with the Drummonds.

"It might be as well," said she, "if we could do some good to that poor
frivolous thing Amelia; but don't you get too much taken up with her,
Caroline, my dear. She is a silly maid at best."

"Oh, Amelia is Fanny's friend, not mine, Aunt Kezia," said I. "And
Charlotte is Sophy's."

"And is Flora to be yours?" said Aunt Kezia.

"I have not made one yet," I answered. "I do not know what Flora is
like."

"As well to wait and see, trow," says my Aunt Kezia.

Sam was bringing in breakfast while this was said; and as soon as he had
set down the col