MARGERY. 71

something amusing. Margery’s books lay on a chair in the
hall, with them the borrowed exercise book for which Minnie
had called; it was lying apart from the others, and, as Punch
stood on his hind legs sniffing at the books, it struck him that
it would make rather a nice plaything. So he carefully drew
it off, and taking it in his mouth to the library, where there
was a glowing fire in the grate, he speedily dislodged the cat—
with whom he was not on intimate terms—and lay down to
enjoy himself. Finding the fire rather warm, for the day
was mild, he finally concluded to go under the sofa with the
book, where he amused himself for some time without being
disturbed.

While this was going on, the girls had exhausted their
subject, and Minnie was ready to go.

“T will get your book,” said Margery, running into the
hall; but the book was, of course, not there, and she was
obliged to return without it.

“ Just wait a minute, Minnie,” she said; “some one must
have taken it up-stairs.”

“Well, do hurry,” returned Minnie, “for I must have it
this afternoon to finish the examples, and I hardly have time
now, for I have all my other lessons to learn.”

Margery searched high and low, but no book was to be
found, and she came back with a distressed face, saying,—

“Oh, Minnie, I don’t see what has become of it! Mine
wouldn’t do you much good, for I haven’t any of the examples