Lily Norri’s Enemy

＂If Lily Norris isn’t just the most provoking child that ever lived!＂ said Maggie Bradford, indignantly. ＂Yes, I believe she just is,＂ assented Bessie. ＂Why,＂ said Mrs. Rush, who was that day making a visit to Maggie’s and Bessie’s mamma, ＂how is this? Lily was the most provoking child that ever lived! I thought Lily was one of your best friends, and that you were so fond of her.＂ ＂Yes, Aunt May, so we are,＂ said Maggie. ＂We’re very fond of Lily indeed; she’s one of our dear beloveds, and we like to have her with us; but for all that, she’s very trying to our patience.＂ ＂Yes,＂ sighed Bessie, ＂I think she’s trying than any child we know; and yet she’s hardly ever naughty, -really naughty, I mean.＂ ＂How does she try you?＂ asked Mrs. Rush, though she believed she could herself have answered as to the cause of complaint.