THE PRESENTS. 13

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Bargain for the fishing-pole. Six lilies. Malleville carries home her box.

 

“TI wish you would,’ said Malleville, speaking to
Phonny, “and then give me one of the pond-llies.”’

«“ Have you got any pond-lilies ? ” said Phonny, calling
to Rodolphus.

“ Yes,” said Rodolphus.

“ And how many will you give me?” asked Phonny.

“ Three,” said Rodolphus—“or six. I don’t care if I
give you six.”

Here Malleville clapped her hands.

« Well,” said Phonny, “come ashore and get the pole.”

So Phonny went down to the beach. 'The boys drew
in their fishing-lines, and pushed the boat toward the
shore. As soon as they were near enough, Phonny
reached out the pole and Rodolphus took itin. Imme-
diately afterward Rodolphus selected six pond-lilies,-and
threw them out to Phonny on the sand.

Phonny gave two of the pond-lilies to Malleville, and
Malleville was very much gratified at receiving them.
She was now more inclined than ever to open her box,
knowing how safely her lies could be stowed in it, by
putting the heads of the lilies in first, in the centre of the
box, and then coiling the stems around them. She,
however, concluded to persevere in her original design of
carrying home her box and showing it to her aunt in the
condition precisely in which she first received it. So she
walked home with Phonny, carrying her box in one hand,
and her lilies in the other. The flowers which she had
gathered herself, she now no longer prized since she had
obtained the lilies, and so she threw them away.