THE DOLL AND HER FRIENDS. 47

“How I wish I could stop you! I cannot imagine
how you can like to be so mischievous and disagree-
able. Oh, if Margaret would but come back !”

At last Margaret came, and the troublesome
Geoffrey expected great amusement from her dis-
pleasure; but he was disappointed. Margaret was
one of those generous people who never resent an
injury done to themselves. If Geoffrey had spoilt
any body else’s drawing, she would have been the
first to punish him; but now she was much more
vexed at Willy’s distress than at the destruction of
_ her own work, and instead of scolding Geofirey,
she gave herself up to consoling Willy. She as-
sured him that there was no great harm done. She ©
said the drawing was good for very little, and that
she would copy it and improve it so much that he
should be quite glad of the disaster; and she made
a present of the spoilt drawing to Geoffrey, tellmg
him she was sure he would one day be ashamed of
so foolish a performance, but that meanwhile he
might keep it as a specimen of his taste. He had
not the manners to apologise, but he looked very
silly and crest-fallen, and left the room m silence,
with the drawing in his hand. .

When he was gone, Willy exclaimed, “ If it
were not for losing Edward, I should wish the holi-
days were over; Geoffrey is so disagreeable.”