"I've been busy with this.

It was the sewing hour, and sister Elsie read aloud to us while we worked." "Ah, yes! I have been reader many a time while mamma and sisters plied the needle." "How nice! you are such a beautiful reader! But she is almost as good." "Not only almost, but altogether," he returned gayly as he held open the door of her boudoir for her to enter, then followed her in.

"I've come now to hear your recitations.

I suppose you are quite prepared," he added, drawing up a chair for her, and glancing at a pile of books lying on the table.
"No," she said, coloring and dropping her eyes with a slightly mortified air.

"I meant to be, but so many things happened to interfere.