142 BRAGGADOCIO.

a little sister that I lost. Her name was Eliza-
beth. Is not that your name, too ?”

“They call me Bessie, but I was baptized
Elizabeth. Come in, Master Framingham ;
Tom is in the field, and will be glad to see
you.”

Bessie ran forward, and led the way to the
field where Tom was planting corn.

“ Do you want another hand ?” said Howard ;
“T will help you, so that we may have more
time for the island this afternoon.”

Tom was quite surprised, but said :

“Thank ye! thank ye! You may drop the
corn while I make the holes; then we can talk
and work together. Bessie often does that ;
but to-day she is quite taken up with her own
garden.”

The boys did as Tom said—worked and
talked till dinner time.

It was quite an affair for Bessie to have
company to dine. She spread her best white
table-cloth upon the kitchen table. She ar-
ranged the plates for three, in the most orderly
manner. She placed the vinegar cruet on one
corner, the mustard opposite, the salt to match