Natural Goodness. 89

she is fond of hearing me, besides I like going
very much."
 Grace was struck. Edith, who was so merry
and thoughtless, to have surpassed her in
good deeds! Yes, in spite of herself, she
did take some credit for having been down
several times to read at the cottage, and to
think Edith, little Edith, had been more at-
tentive still; thought nothing of it either; it
was to her a matter of course, while Grace had
been making a merit of it. At last she in-
quired:
 "Why did you never tell me about it
Edith ?"
 "Oh, I don't know. I didn't think you'd
care to hear it, I suppose. I know you can't
bear close cottages and poor people, and as
I like them, I went there by myself."
 Grace was so lowered in her own estima-
tion, and Edith so raised, that she had no
heart for more talking; she jumped up to
kiss her sister and bid her good-night, that
her thoughts might not be interrupted, and
in the midst of her self-accusations, fell, in a
short time, fast asleep.
 Monday morning rose, cold, windy, and
with a thick drizzling rain; breakfast was
hurried through; the boxes were fastened