' Here she looked much disposed to cry.
'No, no, we will not have any crying this evening,' said Claude. 'I
do not think you did me much mischief, my head ached just as much
before.'
'That was a thing I wanted to ask you about: William says my crying
loud is all habit, and that I must cure myself of it. How does he
mean? Ought I to cry every day to practise doing it without
roaring?'
'Do you like to begin,' said Claude, laughing; 'shall I beat you or
pinch you?'
'Oh! it would make your head bad again,' said Phyllis; 'but I wish
you would tell me what he means. When I cry I only think about what
makes me unhappy.'
'Try never to cry,' said Claude; 'I assure you it is not pleasant to
hear you, even when I have no headache. If you wish to do anything
right, you must learn self-control, and it will be a good beginning
to check yourself when you are going to cry. Do not look melancholy
now. Here comes the tea. Let me see how you will perform as tea-
maker.'
'I wish the evening would not go away so fast!'
'And what are we to do after tea? You are queen of the evening.'
'If you would but tell me a story, Claude.'
They lingered long over the tea-table, talking and laughing, and when
they had finished, Phyllis discovered with surprise that it was
nearly bedtime.
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