SCHOOL DAYS AT ST. MARY'S.

 Oh, Miss Wilmot, dear, do tell me about the Retreat
 of the Ten Thousand; I can't recollect who had been
 fighting. Julia says it was Romulus and Remus, but
 that is her nonsense-at least I think so; I am sure
 I don't know."
 Indeed, I must not help you, Constance. What
 a pity you don't pay attention when you read, my
 dear !"
 The noise was becoming confusing, and Lydia and
 Emily took advantage of it to go to Mademoiselle Wvith
 a request they had to make.
 The lively little French lady was writing a letter,
but she stopped and said, good-naturedly, "What is
it, my children ? "
 Lydia produced a small bag full of slips of paper
with her name written on them. She turned it out
on the table.
 Oh, if you please, Mademoiselle, will you put
these in your drawer ? When I first came back this
half I wasn't so particular about speaking French as
I should have been, and I know I often ought to have
put my name in the drawer when I did not, and I
thought I would put the papers in afterwards, and
then I thought it would be better to give them to
you, so here they are."
 Mademoiselle was bewildered. "But you have
become very particular in speaking French, my dear;
you have, I imagine, the best chance of the prize."
 Lydia coloured. "Yes, I thought so, but it would
not be fair, for I am sure I did not always talk French
those weeks. Please take them, Mademoiselle."
 ",{ Well, as you please, my child-it is honourable
so to do. Ah! have you also something to say,
Emily ?"
 Yes, Mademoiselle; I know I was very careless