BE TRUE. 45

would be called a very deceitful per-
son, and unworthy the confidence of
society, and little Laura was like the
people generally, only, perhaps, a lit-
tle more sincere.

It was a hard lesson for Laura to
learn, that of interpreting everything
by contraries. How should she know
that “I am rejoiced to see you,”
meant, You must be a fool to call at
such an hour, I wish you were at
home; or that, “ You have a love of
a bonnet, that color is beautiful, and
so becoming!” meant, You have a
horrid taste; blue! for a swarthy, mid-
dle-aged person !!

This was the kind of language
used by the sisters, (we will not take
time to write their names,) but to
Laura it was incomprehensible: and
no wonder, if in her ignorance, or