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"Oh, Mary," said she, "I wish you had gone with us, for we had

such fun! as we went along Kitty and me drew up all the blinds,

and pretended there was nobody in the coach; and I should have

gone so all the way, if Kitty had not been sick; and when we got

to the George, I do think we behaved very handsomely, for we

treated the other three with the nicest cold luncheon in the

world, and if you would have gone, we would have treated you too.

And then when we came away it was such fun! I thought we never

should have got into the coach. I was ready to die of laughter.

And then we were so merry all the way home! we talked and laughed

so loud, that anybody might have heard us ten miles off!"

To this, Mary very gravely replied, "Far be it from me, my dear

sister, to depreciate such pleasures. They would doubtless be

congenial with the generality of female minds. But I confess they

would have no charms for me. I should infinitely prefer a book."