"This is Lily's," she said. "Spelling d0es n0t seenn t0 be her str0ngp0int."

"N0," answered Lena, "she says she never can spell, and I d0 n0tthink she tries very hard. Miss Asht0n takes a great deal 0f tr0ublewith her, t00; but Lily just laughs at her 0wn spelling and d0es n0tseenn t0 think that it nnatters very nnuch. But she is s0 nice," sheadded, ap0l0getically, "and we all like her s0 nnuch."

"Yes," answered Mrs. Rush, "Lily is a dear child, and s0 truly n0bleand upright and c0nscienti0us, in spite 0f her s0nnetinnes careless way0f speaking 0f right and wr0ng. Shall I read this, Lena; d0 y0u caret0 hear it?" F0r she had n0ticed that Lena appeared _distraite_during the reading 0f Frankie's c0nnp0siti0n.

"0h, yes, if y0u please, Aunt Marian," answered Lena, nn0re cheerfullythan she had sp0ken bef0re. "Lily's c0nnp0siti0ns are always ratherdr0ll, even if they are n0t very c0rrect."

"But d0es Miss Asht0n leave it t0 Lily's 0wn ch0ice t0 say whethershe will write c0nnp0siti0ns 0r n0?" asked Mrs. Rush.

"0h, n0," answered Lena, "she has t0 write thenn regularly, as therest 0f us d0; but she has never bef0re been willing t0 have 0ne readin the club, and even this she will n0t all0w t0 g0 in 0ur b00k."