two," said Mysie.

"Like your tongue, eh, Mysie?"

"Well, you did not do it! That is a comfort. You would not let her
transgress, and ruin her sister's good bicycle."

"She is an uncommonly pretty little sprite, and the selfish hag of a
sister only left orders that I was to take care of the bike! I could
see where there was a stone as well as anybody else."

"Hag!" angrily cried Mysie, "she is the only nice one of the whole
lot. Vera is a nasty little thing, or she would never think of
meddling with what does not belong to her, or trying to persuade you
to allow it."

"I call it abominable selfishness, dog in the mangerish, to shut up
such a machine as that, and condemn her sisters to one great
lumbering one."

"That's one account," said Valetta. "Paula said it was only till
they had learnt to ride properly, and till the stones have a little
worn in."

"Yes," said Mysie, "I could see Vera is an exaggerating monkey, just
talking over and deluding Will, just as men like when they get a
silly fit."

By this time Wilfred had thought it expedient to put his bicycle to
greater speed, and indulge in a long whistle to show how contemptible