a peach better than they, yet that they could play as well, and keep
their tempers better: she was thrown out. Walking towards the house in a
peevish mood, she met Leonora; she passed on.

"Cecilia!" cried Leonora. "Well, what do you want with me?" "Are we
friends?" "You know best." "We are; if you will let me tell Louisa that
you are sorry--" Cecilia, interrupting her, "O! pray let me hear no
more about Louisa!" "What! not confess that you were in the wrong! Oh,
Cecilia! I had a better opinion of you." "Your opinion is of no
consequence to me now; for you don't love me." "No, not when you are
unjust, Cecilia." "Unjust! I am not unjust; and if I were, you are not
my governess." "No, but am I not your friend?" "I don't desire to have
such a friend, who would quarrel with me for happening to throw down
little Louisa--how could I tell that she had a mandarin in her hand? and
when it was broken, could I do more than promise her another? Was that
unjust?" "But you know, Cecilia----" "_I know_," ironically, "I know,
Leonora, that you love Louisa better than you do me; that's the
injustice!" "If I did," replied Leonora gravely, "it would be no
injustice, if she deserved it better." "How can you compare Louisa to
me!" exclaimed Cecilia, indignantly.

Leonora made no answer, for she was really hurt at her friend's conduct;
she walked on to join the rest of her companions. They were dancing in a
round upon the grass. Leonora declined dancing, but they prevailed upon
her to sing for them; her voice was not so sprightly, but it was sweeter
than usual. Who sung so sweetly as Leonora? or who danced so nimbly as
Louisa?

Away she was flying, all spirits and gayety, when Leonora's eyes full of
tears, caught hers. Louisa silently let go her companions' hands, and