TALKING SECRETS.

“OF course, it must be a secret,” said Ethel to her Mother,
as they walked along together. “Of course,” said~ her
Mother; ‘Mark must not know beforehand what his
birthday present is to be.” And at the same moment
Mark, walking behind Ethel, was saying to his Father,
“We won't call it a secret, because only girls have, secrets ;
but perhaps Ethel had better not hear anything about it
until Saturday.” His Father smiled. ‘Very well,” he said.
A few minutes later Father and Mother went into a shop,
and Mark and. Ethel were left alone for ten minutes.
They were both silent for two minutes; then Ethel said
suddenly, “Mark, I’m glad our birthdays come on the
same day. I couldn’t wait till Saturday to hear about my
present if I didn't know that ~you were waiting too.’
Mark shook his head. “I don’t: like waiting,” he said.
“T wish Saturday would come. Suppose we——”> and
he whispered something in Ethel’s ear. _ Ethel smiled, and
whispered back. Then there was more whispering. And by
. the time Father and- Mother had finished shopping Ethel

knew, and Mark knew, and there wasn’t any secret at all.