A BAD TRAIT. 
295 
were here, Antoinette : I thought you were 
down-stairs with Matilda, and I came to get 
something out of the closet. You seem to 
have a very interesting hook,” she added, 
not wishing to appear annoyed. “What 
is it?” 
“I will show you, if you will promise 
not to tell mamma or Matilda,” replied An¬ 
toinette, mysteriously,—“if you will promise 
faithfully not to tell.” 
“Why not?” asked Annie, innocently. 
“ Why not, you goose ? Because if 
Matilda knows she will be sure to tell 
mother, and then there will be a fuss, of 
course. But I don’t believe you will.” And 
she held out the book as she spoke. But 
Annie drew back. 
“I don’t like secrets, Antoinette,” she 
said. “I never can see any use in them; 
and I am sure that is not a proper book, or 
you would not be so afraid.” 
“But you won’t tell?” said Antoinette, 
in alarm, as Annie turned to leave the 
room. “You won’t surely tell?” 
“ Of course not, unless I am asked. Why 
should I ?” replied Annie, very much dis- 
