Laura had a birthday last week, and asked some children to have tea with
her, and we went, but I don't think any of us enjoyed it one bit. Etty
and I went, and our governess, Miss Ashton, went too; and we were very
glad of that, for we like Miss Ashton, and she takes care of us, because
Etta isn't very strong. Laura has no brothers or sisters, poor thing! so
she doesn't know how to behave; and Miss Ashton tells us we ought to be
sorry for her, and so we are, only she needn't be _quite_ so
disagreeable.
Laura was very grandly dressed. She had a new cream muslin hat on, and a
frock with puffs and things on the sleeves, and all worked about in that
pretty pattern Etty likes so much. Then she had on a pale-green sash,
and thin bronze shoes, and white silk socks. You never saw anything so
silly! We went with Miss Ashton and Miss Morris--that's Laura's
governess--into a field and played games; but Laura was so disagreeable,
she kept on saying, "But it's _my_ birthday!" if any one else suggested
a game, and she wouldn't think of anything nice herself.
At last Miss Morris suggested _Oranges and Lemons_, and Laura thought
she'd like that; so we began to play, Miss Ashton and Miss Morris
holding hands for the arch. But Laura didn't like me to hold her by her
frock, and when I held her sash it came undone, and she was angry, and
said I hit her with a little twig I had in my hand, but that wasn't
true. So, as she was cross, we all sat down till it was tea-time, and
after that we went away. Etty and I _were_ glad to be home again.
I was telling mother all about it when we came home; for _my_ birthday
was yesterday, and _I_ was to have a party too, and I didn't want Laura
at my birthday party. Mother looked grave, and told me she wished Laura
to be invited; and then I said--you see, I didn't think what I was
saying--"But it's _my_ birthday, mother!" Then I saw Etty looking at me,
and felt so ashamed, because it was just like Laura, of whom I had been
complaining. Mother wasn't angry: she only said she hoped I would set
Laura a better example, and let her see that people should not be
selfish, even on their birthdays.
Well, my party was yesterday. Etty and I _did_ work hard, and we had
lots of games, and took it in turns to choose them; but I forgot all
about setting Laura a good example until everybody said good-by, and
told us how much they had enjoyed it. Laura threw her arms round my neck
when she said good-by. She didn't say anything else until she got
outside the door, then she put in her head to tell us, "Next time you
come to tea, Georgy, you and Etty shall choose _all_ the games!"
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