294 
AN INCIDENT. 
called them—had one trait of character which 
their cousins justly regarded as very mean. 
They were excessively sly. Their mother, 
who prided herself upon her exact and strict 
discipline, (as poor Daisy knew to her cost,) 
never allowed them to read story-books of 
any sort; and this rule bore particularly hard 
upon them at The Meadows. The children 
there were not, indeed, allowed to read any 
book without asking permission; but, as 
their library was kept well supplied with 
proper reading-matter, they did not feel the 
restraint as a hardship and never sought to 
evade it; while Antoinette, who loved stories 
of all sorts, was continually seeking private 
opportunities of gratifying her taste. Annie 
was much amazed, on going suddenly 
into their room one day, to find Antoinette 
so interested in a small yellow-covered 
pamphlet as to be almost unconscious of 
her presence. She looked up suddenly and 
made a move to hide the book behind her, 
but, thinking better of it, she said, carelessly, 
“ Is it the fashion here to come in without 
knocking ?” 
Annie coloured in her turn,—not from 
shame, but vexation. “ I did not know you 
