"_You_ may get it, Mary."

"Very well; only do not meddle with Anne's feast."

Mary had to go into another room for the seat, and whilst she was
away, Frances quickly helped herself to half of the pieces which were
on the dishes, and, when Mary returned, resumed her position as if
nothing had happened. Mary was so busy in arranging the seats, that
she did not observe what had been done.

Presently Anne came back, accompanied by her brother William;
hastening to her place, and looking on her table, she started with
surprise, and seemed to say to herself, as she gazed, How came I to
make a mistake, an think my pieces of cake were larger? but the
expression of her face called Mary's attention, who at once said,

"Anne, I am sure you placed larger pieces on your dishes."

"Indeed, I thought so, Mary; who has taken any?"

"I do not know."

"O you are only _pretending_, and you have been hiding some."

"No, Anne; I would not have said I do not know, if I had _hid_
it."

"No, no more you would, dear Mary. Never mind," she said, glancing a
look at Frances, not altogether without suspicion, "it is only to
_play_ with, it does not signify whether it is much or little.