"_I_ see," said John, "here's an end of a matchbox, and here's a bit of yellow paper, and here's a star of red, cutout pretty well, Miss Minnie, and here's----" "John, you are too bad," said Minnie, laying her head down as an extra protection. "I didn't want you to see till it's done, and I should have put it all away by one o'clock. I wish you had not come home so early." [Illustration "'John, you are too bad,' said Minnie, laying her head down as an extra protection." _p. 180._] Minnie spoke in a grumbling little tone, which made John inclined to tease her more than ever. So he laid hold of one of the long golden curls which fell over the treasures, and went on while he twisted it round his fingers-- "And here's a pair of scissors, and here's the inside of the matchbox, and here's--why, here are at least a dozen babies!" What with her hair being touched, which she particularly disliked, and what with her secret being found out, as she thought, Minnie burst into tears. "Hey-day!" said John. "Why, Minnie, you goose, I wasn't really meaning to tease you. Look here, I'll sit still here for as long as you like, and shut my eyes up as close as a mole (if they do), while you put all that precious rubbish away; and what's more, I won't tell a soul about it; no, not if I--suffer for it." Minnie looked up through her tears to see if John were in earnest, and found him sitting, as he said, with his eyes shut and his hands folded in front of him in a comical manner. She gave a little laugh, and raised her head; but added, with the remains of a sob, "You're a _dreadful_ tease, John, and I did want nobody to know." "Nobody to know," echoed John, in a mock tone; "is that a pun?" "You know it isn't; I don't try to make puns." "Have you put away yet, Miss Dignity?" "Nearly. Now, John, _have_ you guessed----?" "Know everything," answered John, "just as well as I knew when I entered the room." "How much is that?" asked Minnie. "Everything," answered the boy. "Come, Minnie, my eyes ache with keeping shut so tight." Minnie found it would be better to hurry her preparations than to answer the brother, who was for ever getting the best of her; so in a minute all was away, and John, with a sigh of profound relief, looked up. Minnie left the room, and John walked to the comfortable fire and whistled. It was not long, however, before a little step was heard on the stairs, and Minnie appeared again. She was walking more slowly than usual, and her head was bent down, while her curls failed to hide the deep flush on her cheeks. "John," she said slowly, "I am sorry I was cross about those boxes; I'll tell you all about it." "I don't care to know, Minnie," said John, looking down on her; "it was only to tease you a little bit, but I didn't think you would really mind." Minnie leaned her head against her brother's arm caressingly, and answered softly: "I oughtn't to have minded; especially----"