unpolished," continued Cecilia, "so--so--really,
I could not bear to live in Cumberland or any of these northern
counties. It is just horrid!"

"Then hadn't you better go back again?" said Hatty, coolly.

"I am sure I shall be thankful when the time comes," answered Cecilia,
rather sharply. "Except you in this family, I do think--"

"Oh, pray don't except us!" laughed Hatty, turning round the next minute
to speak to Ephraim Hebblethwaite. "Mr Ephraim Hebblethwaite, this is
Miss Cecilia Osborne, a young lady from the South Pole or somewhere on
the way, who does not admire us Cumbrians in the smallest degree, and
will be absolutely delighted to turn her back upon the last of us."

"You know I never said that!" said Cecilia, rather affectedly, as she
rose and courtesied to Ephraim.

Ephraim is the only person I know who can get along with Hatty. He
always seems to see through what she says to what she means; and he
never answers any of her pert speeches, nor tries to explain things, nor
smooth her down, as many others do.

"Miss Osborne must stay and learn to like us a little better," said he,
good-humouredly. "Where is Fanny?"

"Looking in the glass, I imagine," said Hatty, calmly.

"Hatty!" said I. "She is in the garden with Sophy."

"You are the Nymphs of the Winds," laughed Ephraim, "and Hatty is the
North Wind."

"Are you sure she is not the East?" said I, for I was vexed. And as I
turned away, I heard Hatty say, laughing,--

"I do enjoy teasing Cary!"

"For shame, Hatty!" answered Ephraim, who speaks to us all as if we were
his sisters.

"I assure you I do," pursued Hatty, in a voice of great glee,
"particularly when my lady puts on her grand Carlisle air, and sweeps
out of the room as she did just now. It is such fun!"

I had slipped into the next window, where they could not see me, and I
suppose Hatty thought I had gone out of the door beyond. I had not the
least idea of eavesdropping, and what I might hear when they fancied me
gone never came into my head till I heard it.

"You see," Hatty went on, "there is no fun in teasing Sophy, for she
just laughs with you, and gives you as good as you bring; and Fanny
melts into tears as if she were a lump of sugar, and Father wants to
know why she has been crying, and my Aunt Kezia sends you to bed before
dark--so teasing her comes too expensive. But Cary is just the one to
tease; she gets into a tantrum, and that is rich!"

Was it really Ceci