80 THE CINDERELLA FROCK.

‘‘ Mary Hardy, I declare,’ ejaculated
Louise, indignantly, ** oh, I wish,—I wish
that Rovina was skinned; I do! plaguing
every little girl she meets,—O! ”’

‘*-Get it, get it, get it if you can! ” they

could hear Rovina calling out, with her pro-
voking laughter, still flourishing the book
aloft. :
**O, I wish I was a giant, if I wouldn’t
make her behave! ”’ muttered Louise shak-
ing her little fist menacingly. ‘ Oh, how I’d
shake her ! ”’

‘* But what if you and I should steal around
there, and persuade her to give it up?” sug-
gested Alice, mildly.

** Persuade! her? you don’t know her, I
guess. There again, poor Mary! she’s ac-
tually crying.. Why, I know all about that
book, Alice. It was her birthday present ;
she just brought it to school to show it,—and