"But, aunty, I only want you to say that it would be much better for
Fani to be a painter, if he can, than to go into the factory. Now, don't
you really and truly think so, aunty?"

Emma was so pressing that her aunt could not avoid answering her; so she
said kindly, "If Fani had any real prospect of becoming a painter, I
should certainly think well of it; but I do not see that he has any."

"May I go on now, aunty?" asked Fred; "it seems to me that Emma is
talking a vast deal of nonsense, as usual."

But Emma was not to be put off so.

"Aunty," she said, "what is a decorator?"

"A person who decorates; that is, adorns or beautifies. Why do you ask,
my child?"

"It means a scene-painter too; a man who paints scenery for the stage,"
said Fred.

"Yes, that's it," said Emma, and she scampered away.

Fred sat silent for a while, and then he said:--

"Aunty dear, did you notice how queerly Emma behaved? Do you suppose she
is thinking of going on the stage?"

"No, indeed, my dear boy," said his aunt calmly; "she has no idea of