EYE-SERVICE; OR,

would still have the last word; so she did not reply,
and, when the girls were all in bed, took up the candle
and wished them good night.
 She need not preach," said Julia, as soon as the
door was safely closed upon Miss Wilmot; "as if we
never heard a sermon fit to listen to from any one but
Mr. Clarke."
 "How rude you were to her !" said Emily, I saw
her eyes flash when you said you were not bound to
tread in her footsteps."
 Yes, she is capital fun; and I know just how far
to go. She gets redder and redder, all but boils over,
and then I stop. I like to watch her mouth when she
is trying to keep her temper in; she has a bad one,
and no mistake."
 Well, I'm sure, you should not be so provoking,"
said Susan; "you would not do so to Mrs. Palmer."
 Why no; of course not !"
 "Where's the difference ?"
 "Little simpleton Is not Mrs. Palmer more than
as old again as Miss Wilmot ? and is not she well off,
and Miss Wilmot as poor as a church mouse ?"
 "She can't help being young," said Lydia.
 No, but for all that I'm not going to mind her;
my sister Anna is twenty-one, as old as she is; and
do you think I would be ordered about by her, a girl
only five years older than myself? No, indeed !"
 "But Miss Wilmot is set over us," persisted Lydia.
 "Well, that makes no difference; she is awfully
poor; I don't choose to obey a person who is my
inferior in position."
 Oh, come, Julia; Miss Wilmot is a lady."
 Her father is only a curate; and she is tremend-
ously conceited."
 How do you make that out ?"