CHAPTER IX.
LENORA AND CARRIE.
Ever since the day on which Lenora had startled Carrie by informing her of her danger, she had been carefully kept from the room, or allowed only to enter it when Margaret was present.

One afternoon, however, early in February, Mag had occasion to go to the village.
Lenora, who saw her depart, hastily gathered up her work, and repaired to Carrie's room, saying, as she entered it, "Now, Carrie, we'll have a good time; Mag has gone to see old deaf Peggy, who asks a thousand questions, and will keep her at least two hours, and I am going to entertain you to the best of my ability." Carrie's cheek flushed, for she felt some misgivings with regard to the nature of Lenora's entertainment; but she knew there was no help for it, so she tried to smile, and said, "I am willing you should stay, Lenora, but you mustn't talk bad things to me, for I can't bear it." "Bad things!" repeated Lenora; "who ever heard me talk bad things! What do you mean ?" "I mean," said Carrie, "that you must not talk about your mother as you sometimes do.

It is wicked." "Why, you dear little thing," answered Lenora, "don't you know that what would be wicked for you isn't wicked for me ?" "No, I do not know so," answered Carrie; "but I know I wouldn't talk about my mother as you do about yours for anything." "Bless your heart," said Lenora, "haven't you sense enough to see that there is a great difference between Mrs.Hamilton first, and Mrs.
Hamilton second?
Now, I'm not naturally bad, and if I had been the daughter of Mrs.Hamilton first instead of Widow Carter's young one, why, I should have been as good as you--no, not as good as _you_, for you don't know enough to be bad--but as good as Mag, who, in my opinion, has the right kind of goodness, for all I used to hate her so." "Hate Margaret!" said Carrie, opening her eyes to their utmost extent.
"What did you hate Margaret for ?" "Because I didn't know her, I suppose," returned Lenora; "for now I like her well enough--not quite as well as I do you, perhaps; and yet, when I see you bear mother's abuse so meekly, I positively hate you for a minute, and ache to box your ears; but when Mag squares up to her, shuts her in the china closet, and all that, I want to put my arms right round neck." "Why, don't you like your mother ?" asked Carrie, and Lenora replied: "Of course I do; but I know what she is and I know she isn't what she sometimes seems.

Why, she'd be anything to suit the circumstances.

She wanted your father, and she assumed the character most likely to secure him; for, between you and me, he isn't very smart." "What did she marry him for, then ?" asked Carrie.
"Marry _him_! I hope you don't for a moment suppose she married _him_!" "Why, Lenora, _ain't they married ?_ I thought they were.