Belle was glad to hear that she was to go to the Bradfords'; and even when she learned that Mabel was to accompany her, she still felt a satisfaction in it, because she was sure that the children would sympathize with her, and be as "offended" with Mabel as she was herself. She was wild to go at once, without waiting for her cousin; and her papa consented that she should do so, hoping that Mrs. Bradford and the children would bring her to a better state of feeling before Mabel made her appearance. Somewhat to Belle's surprise she found Bessie rather more ready than Maggie to resent her supposed injuries. Bessie did not, it is true, encourage her in her naughty feelings, or in returning evil for evil; but she had been so shocked by Mabel's behavior on the day before, that she could not wonder at Belle's dislike. Moreover, Bessie was a little inclined to jealousy herself; and although she struggled hard with this feeling, and showed it but seldom, she was now ready to excuse it, and find just cause for it, in Belle. But Maggie was disposed to look at things in a more reasonable light, and to make the best of them. "Why, Belle," she said, cheerily, "I should think you'd be glad, 'cause now you can be a sunbeam to your cousin, and try to do her good." "I guess I shan't be a sunbeam to her," said Belle. "I'd be nothing but an ugly, old black cloud, what blows a great deal and has thunder and lightning out of it; and it's just good enough for her." And at that moment, indeed, little Belle looked much more like a thunder-cloud than like a sunbeam. "I just can't bear her. I b'lieve I just hate her, and I'm going to do it too," she continued. "But that is naughty," said Bessie. "I don't care: it is truf," said Belle. "I can say the truf, can't I?" "Well, yes," answered Bessie, "when it's the good truth; but if it's a naughty truth, it's better to keep it in." "What did Mabel do to you to make you so mad?" asked Maggie. "Why, she--she"--and Belle hesitated a little, rather ashamed of herself now, as she found how small cause of complaint she really had--"why, she took my things when I didn't say she might. She wanted my carved animals too, what Uncle Ruthven gave me; but papa didn't let her have them, and I wouldn't either. I put them away, and wouldn't let her look at them,--no, not one tiny little peek." "But, Belle, dear, you don't be selfish with your things gen'ally," said Bessie. "Why won't you even let Mabel see them?" "'Cause she's too spoiled;" said Belle; "and I b'lieve she'd just go and break them all up. I don't _know_ she would, but I b'lieve she would." "But we oughtn't to b'lieve bad things about people if we don't know 'em," persisted Bessie. "I shan't let her have my things, anyhow," replied Belle; "and I'm going to try and have her put out of the country too." "How can you?" said Maggie. "They have a right to stay here if they want to."