"Well，I will; but mind you are a very good girl，and don"t be afraid of me. Don"t start when I chance to speak rather sharply; it"s so provoking."

"I don"t think I shall ever be afraid of you again，Bessie，because I have got used to you，and I shall soon have another set of people to dread."

"If you dread them they"ll dislike you."

"As you do，Bessie?"

"I don"t dislike you，Miss: I believe I am fonder of you than of all the others."

"You don"t show it."

"You little sharp thing! you"ve got quite a new way of talking. What makes you so venturesome and hardy?"

"Why，I shall soon be away from you，and besides"- I was going to say something about what had passed between me and Mrs. Reed，but on second thoughts I considered it better to remain silent on that head.

"And so you"re glad to leave me?"

"Not at all，Bessie; indeed，just now I"m rather sorry."

"Just now! and rather! How coolly my little lady says it! I daresay now if I were to ask you for a kiss you wouldn"t give it me: you"d say you"d rather not."

"I"ll kiss you and wele: bend your head down." Bessie stooped;

we mutually embraced，and I followed her into the house quite forted. That afternoon lapsed in peace and harmony; and in the evening Bessie told me some of her most enchaining stories，and sang me some of her sweetest songs. Even for me life had its gleams of sunshine.