entered, accompanied by two of her little girls, their bright faces
glowing with health and happiness.

"And how are the children?" Mrs. Wharton asked, after the first
salutations were over.

"Why, Lewie does not seem well, he has been complaining for a day or
two."

"And where is Agnes? We rode over to see if you let her go over and
pass the holidays with us."

"Why, to tell the truth, Agnes has been very naughty, and I have been
obliged to shut her up."

"Again!" exclaimed Mrs. Wharton, while glances of indignation shot from
the eyes of her two little girls. "Agnes naughty, and shut up again!
Why, Harriet, do you know she appears to me so perfectly gentle and
lovely, that I can hardly imagine her as doing anything wrong. Mr.
Wharton and I often speak of her as the most faultless child we have
ever met with."

"She is not so bad in other ways, but she does delight to tease Lewie,
and keep him screaming. Now, it has been one incessant scream from the
child all this morning, and Agnes _can_ amuse him very well when she
chooses."

"Judging from all her own pretty things scattered about the floor here,
I should think she had been doing her best to amuse him," said Mrs.
Wharton; "she has even taken down her beautiful work-box, of which she