not right to listen, and so I came away as fast as I could."

"Well, I wonder what the present will be?" said Emma, now quite
convinced.

"What should you think of two handsome work-boxes--or, perhaps, as I
am the eldest, of a work-box for yourself, and writing-desk for me?"

"That would be charming!" said Emma; "and I would let you use my
work-box, and you could lend me your writing-desk sometimes."

"I will not make any promises," said Louisa; "you know you are very
careless, and I should not like my nice new desk to be stained with
ink, or, perhaps, scratched with the point of a pin."

"But mamma says I am growing more careful," said her sister; "and I do
not think I am so heedless about other people's things, though I often
spoil my own."

"Remember my wax doll," said Louisa, "which you left in the garden
through that heavy shower of rain, so that I could never play with it
again."

"O, that was such a very long time ago!" said Emma, looking a little
vexed.

"Perhaps it will not be a writing-desk nor a work-box that aunt
Harding will give us," said Louisa; "there are many other things which
we should like. I wish she would ask us to choose."