nd. Charlie, too, was in his best mood most of the
time. Once, indeed, he came very near breaking up the harmony of the
party. Seeing a strap of Jessie's new skates peeping from beneath the
what-not where she had hidden them, he seized it, pulled out the skates,
and began to put them on.

"Please, Charlie, don't do that," said Jessie. "You can't skate on the
carpet, you know; please give them to me?"

"I won't!" retorted the wilful boy.

"Please do give them to me?" implored Jessie.

"I want to skate on the carpet, first," said Charlie, still trying to
buckle on the skates.

"Do ask him to give them to me?" said Jessie, addressing Emily.

"There, take your old skates!" cried the boy, throwing them violently
across the room.

The fact was, he did not understand the mystery of straps and buckles in
which the skates were involved. Hence his desire to try the skates was
borne away upon the current of his impatience, and thereby the little
party escaped a scene for the time being.

But it was only for a time. Charlie had been so used to have his own way
and to oppose the wishes of others, that he seemed to find his pleasure in
spoiling the delights of others. Hence, when the hour for tea arrived, and
Jessie's sweet little china tea-set, with its ornaments of gold and
flowers, was spread out upon a little round table, he drew near to it and
taking Jessie's seat, said:

"I'm going to play lady and pour out the tea."

"Nonsense, Charlie!" said his sister. "Take the next seat and let Jessie
have hers."

"I won't," muttered Charlie.

"Come, Charlie, do get out of your cousin's chair! Young gentlemen don't
pour out tea for ladies, you know," said Carrie in her most coaxing
tones.

"I don't care! I'm going to play lady and pour out the tea," replied the
boy in his most dogged manner.

"I never did see such a boy in all my life," whispered Jessie to her
friend.

"Nor I," rejoined Carrie; "my father says he's a young hornet."

"Oh dear! what shall I do?" sighed Jessie.

"Why don't you sit down?" said Charlie, as he began to handle the little
teapot.

"Charlie, get up!" exclaimed his sister, as she snatched the teapot from
his hand.

"Don't touch him. I'll call my uncle; he'll make him move," said Jessie,
moving towards the door.

She was too late; Emily's act had roused the fiery temper of the boy.
Placing his hands on each side of his chair, he leaned back, and lifting
up his feet to the edge of the table