mbering what
was in the books; and she was rather in awe of Tom's superiority, for he
was the only person who called her knowledge "stuff," and did not feel
surprised at her cleverness. Tom, indeed, was of opinion that Maggie was
a silly little thing; all girls were silly; they couldn't throw a stone
so as to hit anything, couldn't do anything with a pocket-knife, and
were frightened at frogs. Still, he was very fond of his sister, and
meant always to take care of her, make her his housekeeper, and punish
her when she did wrong.

They were on their way to the Round Pool--that wonderful pool, which
the floods had made a long while ago. No one knew how deep it was;
and it was mysterious, too, that it should be almost a perfect round,
framed in with willows and tall reeds, so that the water was only to
be seen when you got close to the brink. The sight of the old favorite
spot always heightened Tom's good-humor, and he spoke to Maggie in the
most amiable whispers, as he opened the precious basket and prepared
their tackle. He threw her line for her, and put the rod into her hand.
Maggie thought it probable that the small fish would come to her hook,
and the large ones to Tom's. But she had forgotten all about the fish,
and was looking dreamily at the glassy water, when Tom said, in a loud
whisper, "Look! look, Maggie!" and came running to prevent her from
snatching her line away.

Maggie was frightened lest she had been doing something wrong, as usual,
but presently Tom drew out her line and brought a large tench bouncing
on the grass.

Tom was excited.

"O Magsie! you little duck! Empty the basket."

Maggie was not conscious of unusual merit, but it was enough that Tom
called her Magsie, and was pleased with her. There was nothing to mar
her delight in the whispers and the dreamy silences, when she listened
to the light dipping sounds of the rising fish, and the gentle rustling,
as if the willows, and the reeds, and the water had their happy
whisperings also. Maggie thought it would make a very nice heaven to sit
by the pool in that way, and never be scolded. She never knew she had a
bite till Tom told her, but she liked fishing very much.

It was one of their happy mornings. They trotted along and sat down
together, with no thought that life would ever change much for them:
they would only get bigger and not go to school, and it would always be
like the holidays; they would always live together and be fond of each