quitting the dance, ran up to Leonora to inquire what was the matter
with her.

"Nothing," replied she, "that need interrupt you,--Go, my dear, and
dance again."

Louisa immediately ran away to her garden, and pulling off her little
straw hat, she lined it with the freshest strawberry leaves, and was
upon her knees before the strawberry bed when Cecilia came by. Cecilia
was not disposed to be pleased with Louisa at that instant, for two
reasons: because she was jealous of her, and because she had injured
her. The injury, however, Louisa had already forgotten; perhaps, to tell
things just as they were, she was not quite so much inclined to kiss
Cecilia as she would have been before the fall of her mandarin, but this
was the utmost extent of her malice, if it can be called malice.

"What are you doing there, little one?" said Cecilia in a sharp tone.
"Are you eating your early strawberries here all alone?" "No," said
Louisa, mysteriously; "I am not eating them." "What are you doing with
them--can't you answer then? I'm not playing with you, child!" "Oh! as
to that, Cecilia, you know I need not answer you unless I choose it; not
but what I would, if you would only ask me civilly--and if you would not
call me _child_." "Why should not I call you child?"
"Because--because--I don't know;--but I wish you would stand out of my
light, Cecilia, for you are trampling upon all my strawberries." "I have
not touched one, you covetous little creature!" "Indeed--indeed,
Cecilia, I am not covetous. I have not eaten one of them--they are all
for your friend Leonora. See how unjust you are." "Unjust! that's a cant
word you learned of my friend Leonora, as you call her, but she is not
my friend now." "Not your friend now!" exclaimed Louisa. "Then I am sure