The Fairy Godmothers. 35

then myfelf. I don’t like ladies who fay nothing
but ‘ Pretty little dear, what a nice colour fhe has,’
juft to pleafe Mamma.”

What Nurfe in England could be expeéted to
enter into fo philofophical an inveftigation of the
habits of fociety ?

Hermione’s did nothing but affure her it was
time to be off, and fhe only hoped fhe would fit
ftill and talk prettily, and never trouble her head
whether it was ftupid or not.

When Hermione got into the drawing room
and faw the company feated as fhe had defcribed
to her Nurfe, fhe felt very much difpofed to laugh
again, but made an effort and compofed herfelf.
Still her face was beaming with mirth and fun,
and when fome ladies faid ‘* What a happy look-
ing little girl,” they were quite fincere. That fort
of face too worked wonders, and her Mamma’s
friends liked her much and talked pleafantly to
her, and fhe was pleafed and happy and quite for-
got the ball of worfted, as well as the ladies’ white
kid gloves. A young lady however who had her
arm round Hermione’s waift and was playing with
her, fuddenly felt the round protuberance! in her
pocket. ‘“ Ah you little rogue, what have you
here?” ‘ Its a fecret,”’ cried Hermione. ‘“ I
think I can unravel your myfterious fecret, little
girl, you are a favourite with the houfekeeper,”’
added fhe, whifpering in Hermione’s ear, ‘¢ and
fhe has juft given you an orange.”

‘¢ You are a very bad gueffer of fecrets,”’ whif-