"Yes," answered William, "but she knows it is _plenty_."

"How contented the others seem to wait till she comes again!"

"Yes, Mary," William again answered, unable to resist the comparison
which had come to his mind, "they did not take the little bit away
from the other. Shall we wait till she comes again?"

"O do."

"Very well, I want to see whether the one that was fed first will
take away the bit the others got."

The allusion made a little laugh, but, seeing that Frances
understood and felt that it applied to her, Anne said, "Do not let us
tease Frances; it is better to tell her at once what her fault is,
than to seem to like to hurt her."

"Indeed, dear Anne, I have not spared to tell her, her fault, as she
knows very well, for she has often given me reason, but I cannot make
her ashamed of such things; and I know mamma is very uneasy to see it
in her."

Frances looked grave, but did not cry; turning pale, however, she
said, "O Mary take me out of this laurel--I am so sick!"

Mary hastened to take her into the freer air, but all in vain. The
sisters were alarmed, and took her in to their mamma; who received
her gravely, without expressing any concern for her indisposition.