A day or two after this, as several of the children were talking among themselves, the attention of the old lady was arrested.

She could not hear distinctly what they said, but Oscar took a prominent part in the conversation; and a moment after, on his leaving the room, she asked Ella what he wanted.
"O, it was n't anything that you care about, grandma'am," replied Ella.
"Is that the way your mother teaches you to answer questions, Ella ?" inquired Mrs.Lee, in a mild, reproachful tone.
"No, no, grandmother," replied Alice, with considerable earnestness; "I shall tell mother how impudently she spoke to you.

A boy has given a little dog to Oscar, and that was what he was telling us about, just before he went out." "Why, grandmother," added Ella, "I did n't mean to be impudent; but I 've noticed that you always want to hear what everybody says, even when they are not talking to you, and mother says that is n't polite." "I am much obliged to you, my dear," replied her grandmother, very meekly; "after I have taken a few more lessons from you, perhaps I shall know how to behave." The feelings of the old lady were more hurt by the rudeness of Ella, than her mild rebukes indicated.

Alice felt bound to inform her mother of what had taken place; and Mrs.Preston was greatly mortified, on learning that her little daughter had spoken so impudently to her aged mother.

She apologized for Ella, as well as she could, by saying that she was naturally forward and impulsive.