"You must never call mamma naughty; it is the custom in your country to have music on Sunday, though not in mine. But if you will promise to be a very good child, and sit very quiet, I shall finish the pretty story I was telling you about Joseph and his Brethren."

Oh, yes, tell me that story; you know you left off where his bad brothers put him in the pit,—is it a true story ?”

"Quite true, and when you are older you shall read it yourself."

"But when shall I be big enough to read it? I only know six letters, and it will be a long, long time before I can read about Joseph, won't it ?"

"No, if you are a very diligent little girl, you may read it very soon."

"But where shall I read it?"

"In the Bible."

"Has my mamma a Bible? Does she read it? and does she know all about Joseph ?"

"I dare say she does, but if you talk so much, I can't tell the story."

"Well, but I won't talk any more, after I have asked mamma if she can tell me all about Joseph."

And away she ran across the room to Mrs Lennox, who was lolling on a sofa. "Mamma, can you tell me the story about Joseph and his Brethren ?"

But Mrs Lennox did not deign to give the child a reply.

"I say, mamma," again said Clara, at the same time trying to climb on the sofa, "can you tell me about Joseph and his brethren ?"

"Get along, child," said Mrs Lennox, "and don't tease me-don't you see I am reading?"

"Are you reading about Joseph ?" said the indefatigable Clara, who had now got beside her mother, and was trying to peep at the Morning Post, which she imagined was her favourite story.

"Get down, you little urchin," exclaim

ed Mrs Lennox, at the same time giving her a hearty slap; "do you wish to break your neck? Come down off the sofa immediately, and be quiet, and don't plague me, or I shall send you to the nursery."

66

Well, then," said Clara, as she descended from the sofa," you are an old cross mamma, and I don't love you half so well as aunt Catherine. I wish she was my mamma in place of you.'

"You little impertinent minx!" exclaimed Mrs Lennox, starting up from her recumbent position, and giving Clara a box on the ear, just as she reached the ground, "I will teach you to talk so to your mamma, are these the lessons Miss Dundas gives you?"

Catherine had just begun a spirited justification, when her voice was drowned by the cries of Clara; and by the time the child had ceased to scream and sob, Catherine had recollected how much it would pain Charles, were he to know the improper conduct of his wife; she therefore resolved

to refrain from noticing Mrs Lennox's unjust charge, and to keep silence on the subject. Being desirous of avoiding farther discussion with Mrs Lennox, she rose; and Clara, seeing her about to leave the room, renewed her cries and screams, and insisted that Catherine should remain, or allow her to go with her; but Catherine, who saw that Mrs Lennox was jealous of her influence over the child, would do neither, and, in spite of the tears and entreaties of Clara, withdrew to her apartment. On her disappearance, Clara sent forth the most violent outcries; in vain did Mrs Lennox promise alternately to give her a whipping or a wax-doll, she would not be pacified; and annoyed by the uproar, and anxious to return to the sofa and the Morning Post, she rung for Jenkinson, and desired her to carry her compliments to Miss Dundas, and her request that she would assist her in quieting Clara.

To this Catherine replied, " that she was sorry she could not comply with her wishes."

Clara, who had ceased screaming till she heard Catherine's answer, now began again with increased fervour, and Mrs Lennox, heartily tired of the task of managing her own child, in utter despair hastened to Catherine, and making an ample apology for her conduct, easily persuaded her to return with her to the drawing-room.

Here is aunt Catherine," said Mrs Lennox, "come to tell you all about Joseph and his brethren."

"Indeed, I shall do no such thing," replied Catherine-" she does not deserve it."

"For heaven's sake, do promise to humour her," exclaimed Mrs Lennox, terrified at the prospect of another fit of crying; but Catherine was firm, and lifting Clara from the carpet, she in a short time restored quietness without calling in the aid of either whipping or the doll; and the now penitent child was sent off to bed, without having heard the much-longed-for story of Joseph and his brethren.