Arthur stole on tiptoe across the room, and coming up behind
Elsie, tickled the back of her neck with a feather.

She started, saying in a pleading tone, "Please, Arthur, don't."

"It pleases me to do," he said, repeating the experiment.

Elsie changed her position, saying in the same gentle, persuasive
tone, "O Arthur! _please_ let me alone, or I never shall be
able to do this example."

"What! all this time on one example! you ought to be ashamed. Why,
I could have done it half a dozen times over."

"I have been over and over it," replied the little girl in a tone
of despondency, "and still there are two figures that will not
come right."

"How do you know they are not right, little puss?" shaking her
curls as he spoke.

"Oh! please, Arthur, don't pull my hair. I have the answer--that's
the way I know."

"Well, then, why don't you just set the figures down. I would."

"Oh! no, indeed; that would not be honest."

"Pooh! nonsense! nobody would be the wiser, nor the poorer."