36 The Fairy Godmothers.

pered Hermione in return, “ It’s no fuch thing !”
—“ Then it’s an apple.” ‘ No, nor an apple.”
—‘“* Then it’s a peach, and your new frock will be
fpoilt.” “ No it is’nt a peach either, and it’s a
fecret.” The young lady loved fun, and a playful
ftruggle enfued between her and Hermione ; in the
courfe of which the large grey worfted ball and its
long ravelled tail were drawn from the little pocket.

Hermione had now to tell the hiftory of the
ball, which fhe did naturally and honeftly, but
when fhe added, quite ferioufly, that fhe intended,
when they had done talking to her, to go behind
her Mamma’s chair and finifh winding it up, you
may guefs how they laughed.

“* Come here, my little dear, and let me look
at you,” cried an elderly lady in fpeétacles, put-
ting out her hand and laying hold of Hermione’s.
“¢ Why what an induftrious little foul you muft be!
a perfect pattern! There now! you may go be-
hind my chair and finifh your ball of worfted ; no-
body wants to talk to you any longer.”

This old lady was rather crabbed, and had not
quite believed Hermione fincere, fo the did this to
try her, and expected to fee her pout and refufe.
To her furprize, Hermione only faid “ Oh thank
you, ma’am,” with a quite fmiling face, and going
behind the chair, fat down on the floor to her
worfted. For a few moments the old lady kept
thinking “ It won’t laft long: fhe’ll foon be glad
of an excufe to come out:” but no fuch thing
happened ; and juft what Hermione expected did