Jacob Abbott

Mary Erskine Jacob Abbott

Malleville and her cousin Phonny generally played together at Franconia a great part of the day, andat night they slept in two separate recesses which opened out of the same room. These recesses weredeep and large, and they were divided from the room by curtains, so that they formed as it wereseparate chambers: and yet the children could speak to each other from them in the morning beforethey got up, since the curtains did not intercept the sound of their voices. They might have talked inthe same manner at night, after they had gone to bed, but this was against Mrs. Henry's rules. One morning Malleville, after lying awake a few minutes, listening to the birds that were singing inthe yard, and wishing that the window was open so that she could hear them more distinctly, heardPhonny's voice calling to her."Malleville," said he, "are you awake?""Yes," said Malleville, "are you?""Yes," said Phonny, "I'm awake-but what a cold morning it is!"It was indeed a cold morning, or at least a very cool one. This was somewhat remarkable, as it was inthe month of June. But the country about Franconia was cold in winter, and cool in summer. Phonny and Malleville rose and dressed themselves, and then went down stairs. They hoped to finda fire in the sitting-room, but there was none.