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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:06:47 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:06:47 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19889-h.zip b/19889-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..681a7f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/19889-h.zip diff --git a/19889-h/19889-h.htm b/19889-h/19889-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cbbc0f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/19889-h/19889-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6006 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Naughty Miss Bunny, by Clara Mulholland. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr {margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 0; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #003366; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-collapse: collapse;} + + .tda {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} + .tdb {text-align: left;} + .tdc {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} + .tdindent {padding-left: 2em; text-align: left;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + a[name] { position: absolute;} /* Fix Opera bug */ + + img {border-style: none; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .block {margin: auto; width: 520px;} + + .block2 {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .figright {float: right; clear: right;} + .figleft2 {float: left; clear: left;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin: -3px 5px 0px 0px; text-align: center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Naughty Miss Bunny, by Clara Mulholland + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Naughty Miss Bunny + A Story for Little Children + +Author: Clara Mulholland + +Release Date: November 21, 2006 [EBook #19889] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY *** + + + + +Produced by Jacqueline Jeremy, Malcolm Farmer and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="block"> +<div class="figleft2"> +<img src="images/spine.jpg" title="cover" height="617" width="112" alt="spine" /></div> +<div class="figright"> +<a name="cover" id="cover"></a> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" title="cover" height="617" width="400" alt="cover" /></div> +</div> + +<h1 style="font-family: serif; padding-top: 5em;">NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY.</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/divider.jpg" title="divider" height="50" width="132" alt="divider" /></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"> +<a name="frontispiece" id="frontispiece"></a> +<img src="images/illus002.jpg" title="illus002" height="605" width="400" alt="ilus002" /></div> + +<h5 class="caption">THE BUTLER SURPRISES BUNNY.</h5> + + +<h1 style="margin-top: 5em;">NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY</h1> +<h4>A STORY</h4> +<h4>FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.</h4> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h2>CLARA MULHOLLAND</h2> + +<h5>Author of "The Little Bog-trotters," &c.</h5> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/logo.jpg" title="logo" height="62" width="150" alt="logo" /></div> + +<h4>LONDON</h4> +<h5>BLACKIE & SON, <span class="smcap">Limited</span>, 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C.<br /> +GLASGOW AND DUBLIN</h5> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<table summary="table of contents" style="width: 500px;"> +<colgroup span="3"> +<col width="5%"></col> +<col width="80%"></col> +<col width="15%"></col> +</colgroup> +<tr> +<td class="tda">Chap.</td> +<td class="tdb"> </td> +<td class="tdc">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">I.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Only for Fun,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_i">9</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">II.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Pleasant News for Bunny,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_ii">27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">III.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Bunny gets up Early,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_iii">37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">IV.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Bunny gets a Fright,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_iv">49</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">V.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Little Indian,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_v">59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">VI.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Bunny forgets again,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_vi">69</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">VII.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">In Miss Kerr's Room,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_vii">83</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">VIII.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Bunny tries to show off,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_viii">99</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">IX.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Miss Kerr promises a Prize,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_ix">125</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">X.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">On Oliver's Mount,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_x">138</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XI.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Was it Cruel?</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_xi">152</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XII.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Fireworks,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_xii">167</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XIII.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Quiet Times,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_xiii">179</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XIV.</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Bunny's Improvement. Home Again,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#chapter_xiv">185</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<table summary="illustrations" style="width: 500px;"> +<colgroup span="2"> +<col width="70%"></col> +<col width="30%"></col> +</colgroup> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Butler surprises Bunny,</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a> <span style="padding-left: 2px;"><a href="#illus002">19</a></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Bunny welcomes her Father</span>,</td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#illus050">50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Francis saves Bunny</span>,</td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#illus114">115</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_1.jpg" title="chap_1" height="97" width="400" alt="chap_1" /></div> + +<h1 style="font-family: serif;">NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY.</h1> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<h2><a name="chapter_i" id="chapter_i"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>ONLY FOR FUN.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap1_h.jpg" title="H" height="200" width="117" alt="H" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">ow</span> nice!" cried Bunny. "Mama +has sent for Miss Kerr, so I can do +exactly as I like for a little while. +I am very glad papa brought us +up here, for it is so pretty and so +cool, and these gardens are so lovely;" and +she gazed about her at the garden and the +lawn and then at the distant sea that lay just +beyond them, sparkling and dancing in the +sunshine. "If I had no governess," continued +the little girl, "and no lessons, and no nasty +nurse to say, 'Sit still, Miss Bunny,' and +'Don't make dirty your frock, Miss Bunny,' I +think I should be jolly—yes, that's papa's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +word, jolly. But, oh dear, big people are so +happy, for they can do what they like, but +<i>chindrel</i> must do everything they are told." +And quite forgetting her pretty white frock +and dainty sash, and the many orders she +had received not on any account to soil them, +she lay back comfortably upon the grass.</p> + +<p>Bunny, whose real name was Ethel Dashwood, +was six years old, and was one of the +spoilt "<i>chindrel</i>," as she called children. If +she had had brothers and sisters, very likely +Bunny would have been kept in better order, +but as she was quite alone no one could bear +to correct her, and so she became very hard +to manage indeed. Her papa indulged her, +and thought she could do nothing wrong, +whilst her mama was so delicate that she +was very seldom able to look after her little +girl, and left her to the care of a kind-hearted, +but foolish old nurse, who allowed her to +have her own way in everything and never +for an instant thought of finding fault with +her.</p> + +<p>This was all very well so long as Bunny +was no more than a baby, but when she came +to be six years old Mr. Dashwood suddenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +found that her little girl was much too +naughty, so she resolved to make a change +in the nursery, that would, she hoped, have +a good effect in every way. First of all old +nurse was sent away, and a trim French maid, +with a quick sharp manner, was engaged to +take her place.</p> + +<p>Bunny was sorry to part with nurse, who +had always been kind to her, but Sophie was +so amusing, spoke such funny English, and +sang such merry songs that the little girl soon +ceased to fret, and became quite pleased with +her new maid.</p> + +<p>The change of nurses Bunny bore in a +quiet way that surprised everyone in the +house; but when her mother told her that +she had arranged with a young lady to come +and live with them and be her governess, the +little girl burst into a passion, and stamping +her foot declared she would have no one to +teach her, that she would say no lessons, and +that her mama was very unkind to think +of such a thing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was greatly shocked, and +unable to understand such naughtiness, rang +the bell and ordered Sophie to take the child<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +away, and Bunny was carried off weeping +bitterly. But this fit of anger only made +her mama more anxious to have some one +to look after her daughter, and in a few days +the governess arrived, and Bunny was set +down to learn to read and write.</p> + +<p>This was a great change for the neglected +child, and had her teacher been a sensible +person Bunny would doubtless have become +a good little girl in time. But unfortunately +the governess was very foolish, and thought +it much easier to allow her pupil to have her +own way than to take the trouble to make +her do what was right, and so instead of doing +the child good she did her harm, and +Bunny became more and more naughty every +day.</p> + +<p>This was in June, and as London grew very +hot and dusty, Mrs. Dashwood declared they +must all go away to the country, and her +husband, who wished them to have a nice +holiday, went off at once and took a beautiful +house at Scarborough.</p> + +<p>Bunny was enchanted, and made up her +mind to have great fun at the seaside, and +as the very day before they left town, her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +governess was obliged to leave in a great +hurry on account of a death in her family, +the little girl made up her mind that she +was going to have perfect freedom to do +exactly what she liked and to play every +day upon the sea-beach. Sophie did not +trouble her much except when she was cross, +and so Bunny set off to Scarborough in very +high spirits.</p> + +<p>The house her papa had taken for them +was a pretty rambling old place, standing on +a height just above the sea, and surrounded +by spreading trees and large gardens full of +sweet-scented flowers. A most charming +spot indeed, and to the little girl from hot +dusty London it seemed a perfect paradise.</p> + +<p>The first days in the country passed away +very happily, and Bunny was not as wild as +might have been expected by those who knew +her, when one day, as she ran through the +hall, she stopped in astonishment before a +large trunk, and cried out to the butler, who +was standing near, "Who does that belong +to, Ashton? Has a visitor come to stay +with us?"</p> + +<p>"A visitor, miss? No, a new governess,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +miss—she's just gone in to speak to your +mama;" and he hurried away to his pantry.</p> + +<p>"Nasty thing!" cried Bunny, stamping her +foot and growing very red and angry. Just +when I thought I was going to be happy all +by myself! But I'll be so naughty, and so +troublesome, that she'll soon go away. I'll be +ten times as hard to manage as I was before. +She'll not get hold of me to-night any way, +and scampering off into the garden she hid +herself among the trees.</p> + +<p>But the new governess, Miss Kerr, was a +very different person from the last, and resolved +to do her best to make her little pupil +a good well-behaved child. She was a kind, +warm-hearted girl, who had a great many +small brothers and sisters of her own, and +she never doubted that in a short time +Bunny would become as good and obedient +as they were. She soon found, however, +that the task was not as easy as she had +fancied, and when she had been a few days +at Holly Lodge she began to fear that it +would be a very long time before her lectures +and advice would have the smallest +effect upon the wayward little child.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>She had now been a whole week in charge +of the girl, and she feared that Bunny would +never learn to love her.</p> + +<p>About half an hour before our story begins, +Bunny and her governess had been seated on +the lawn together. Mrs. Dashwood sent to +ask Miss Kerr to go to her for a few moments, +and that young lady had hastened +into the house, leaving her little charge upon +the grass with her book.</p> + +<p>"Do not stir from here till I return, Bunny," +she said; "you can go over that little +lesson again, and I shall not be long."</p> + +<p>But as time went on and she did not +return the child grew restless, and feeling +very tired of sitting still, began to look about +to see what there was for her to do.</p> + +<p>"Governesses are great bothers," she grumbled +to herself as she rolled about on the +grass. "And now as Miss Kerr does not +seem to be coming back, I think I will have +a climb up that tree—it looks so easy I'm +sure I could go up ever so high. There's +nobody looking, so I'll just see if I can go +right away up—as high as that little bird up +there."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>Bunny was very quick in her movements, +and a minute later her white frock and blue +sash were fluttering about among the leaves +and branches of a fine old tree that grew in +the middle of the lawn.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! How lovely it would be to be +a bird—cheep, cheep! If I only had wings I +should just feel like one this minute, perched +up so high," she said with a merry laugh, as +she jumped and wriggled about on the branch.</p> + +<p>But she quite forgot that the nursery window +overlooked the lawn, and that Sophie +was sure to be sitting there at her work. In +a moment, however, this fact was recalled to +her mind by the sound of a wild shriek from +the terrified maid.</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle! Miss Bunny, you want to +kill yourself, or tear your sweet frock. Ah! +naughty child, get down this instants, or I will +tell monsieur your papa."</p> + +<p>This was the one threat that had any power +to move Miss Bunny, so down she scrambled +and ran away as fast as she could over the +grass.</p> + +<p>There was still no sign of Miss Kerr, so the +child wandered about, wondering what was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +keeping her governess, and wishing she had +something to do, when all at once her eyes +fell on a beautiful rose-tree, almost weighed +down with the quantity of its flowers, and +she flew at it in delight and began to pull off +the lovely blossoms and pin one of them into +the front of her frock. But like most foolish +children she broke them off so short that there +was no stalk left with which to fasten them, +and so the poor rose fell upon the ground, +and the little girl impatiently snatched at +another and dragged it ruthlessly from the +branch. This went on for some time, and +would probably have gone on until not a +flower remained upon the bush, had not +Sophie again made herself heard from the +nursery window.</p> + +<p>"Miss Bunny, how can you derange the +beautiful roses?" she cried indignantly. +"There will be not one left to give to your +papa when he comes home, and you know he +loves those sweet flowers so much."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so sorry," cried Bunny. "But +there are some dear little buds, and I will +just leave them for papa. Who knows perhaps +they may be roses by to-morrow even<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>ing!" +and away she flitted like a white-winged +butterfly in search of some other +sweet flowers that she might make her own, +without fear of further interruption from +sharp-tongued Sophie.</p> + +<p>At last, when she had such a large bouquet +that her little hands could scarcely hold it, +she wearied of her occupation, and stepping +softly to the drawing-room window, she +peeped in just to see what Miss Kerr and +her mama could be doing that kept them +shut up there for so long together.</p> + +<p>"I'll take mama these flowers," she said +to herself, "and I am sure they will make +her headache better. I'll just tap gently at +the window and Miss Kerr will let me in, +and I'll be so good and quiet that mama +will not mind me being with her while she +talks."</p> + +<p>Bunny waited for some minutes, hoping to +be admitted to the room, but no notice was +taken of her knocking—for the ladies were +too much absorbed in their own affairs to +trouble themselves about her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood lay on the sofa, and her +face had a flushed anxious expression, as she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +listened to Miss Kerr, who was seated on a +stool by her side, and seemed to be talking +very earnestly, but her voice was low, and as +the window was shut Bunny could not hear +a word she said.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, what a lot Miss Kerr has got +to say!" cried the little girl impatiently. "She +seems as if she had forgotten all about me. +I am tired of being out here all alone, so I'll +just run in and play with my dollies."</p> + +<p>Now the nearest way into the house was +up a flight of steps and in by the dining-room +window, which was like a large glass +door, and always lay open in the most tempting +manner possible.</p> + +<p>So up these steps went Miss Bunny, her +hands full of flowers and her mind bent on +mischief, if she could only meet with anything +to do that would amuse her and give +her some fun.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"> +<a name="illus002" id="illus002"></a> +<img src="images/illus002.jpg" title="illus002" height="605" width="400" alt="ilus002" /></div> + +<h5 class="caption" style="padding-bottom: 2em;">THE BUTLER SURPRISES BUNNY.</h5> + +<p>The room into which she stepped was a +very pretty one. It was very nearly round, +with many high windows looking out upon +the pleasant grounds and blue sparkling sea. +Upon the walls were pictures of fine thoroughbred +horses, some of them with their little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +foals beside them, others with a surly-looking +old dog or a tiny kitten, their favourite stable +companion and friend. Bunny loved these +pictures and had given the horses pet names of +her own, by which she insisted on calling them, +although their own well-known names were +printed under them, for they were all horses +that had won a great number of races during +their lives, and so had become celebrated.</p> + +<p>The round table in the middle of the room +was laid ready for dinner, and looked very +inviting with its prettily arranged flowers, +handsome silver, and shining glass.</p> + +<p>"Dear me, how nice it all looks!" said +Bunny, as she marched round the table on +tip-toe. "One, two, three, four places. Why, +it must be for company. Well, I hope there +will be somebody nice to talk to me. I must +get Sophie to put on my pretty new frock. +But oh, dear, what fun it would be just to +put a tiny, little drop of water into every +glass! Wouldn't old Ashton wonder—just +when he thinks everything is nice for dinner? +I will! I'll do it! It will be such fun! Oh, +I'd like to see his face; won't he be horribly +angry?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>Throwing her flowers on the floor, Bunny +sprang to the side-board, and seizing a water-jug +she climbed up on each chair in turn +and poured a few drops of water into every +glass all round the dinner-table.</p> + +<p>Just as she came to the last wine-glass and +held the jug ready to let the water fall into +it, the door opened suddenly and the solemn-looking +old butler entered the room.</p> + +<p>"Miss Bunny!" he exclaimed, and he looked +so stern and angry that the little girl felt +frightened, and dropping the jug, scrambled +off the chair, seized her flowers, and ran out +of his sight as fast as she could.</p> + +<p>"I only did it for fun, Ashton," she called +back from the door. "It is clean water, so it +won't do any harm."</p> + +<p>"Harm, indeed!" grumbled Ashton; "just +as I thought I had everything done until +dinner time. Now I must begin and rub up all +this glass again;" and he began at once to remove +the glasses from the table. "Little himp +that she is, that Miss Bunny! A perfect +himp, and if I had the governessing of her +for sometime I'd—I'd—bah! there's that bell +again! Some folks is in a mighty hurry,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +and full of anger and indignation against the +little girl whom he could not punish for her +naughty trick, Ashton hurried to the hall +door, longing for something upon which he +could vent his wrath.</p> + +<p>Bunny was skipping merrily in the hall, +and the pretty roses that she had gathered +with so much pleasure lay scattered on the +ground. This sight did not tend to put the +butler in a better temper, but he made no +remark, and passing by the little girl without +a word he opened the hall door with a +jerk. A poor boy with a thin pinched face +stood upon the step.</p> + +<p>"If you please, sir, will you give me a bit +of bread, for I am very hungry?" he said in +an imploring voice, as he gazed up into the +butler's face.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing for you. How dare you +come here with your wretched lies?" cried +Ashton fiercely, and he shut the door with +a bang.</p> + +<p>"That's not true, Ashton," cried Bunny +darting forward and opening the door again. +"Wait, little boy, and I will get you something!" +and before the astonished butler<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +knew where he was, she had rushed into the +dining-room, and came back carrying a large +loaf and a pat of butter that she had found +upon the side-board.</p> + +<p>"You must not give that away, Miss +Bunny," cried the man; "that is in my charge, +and I cannot allow you to give it to a beggar;" +and he tried to drag the bread from her +hands.</p> + +<p>"You nasty man! I will give it to him if +I like," she screamed. "My papa always lets +me do what I like, and you are only a servant—and +I will give it;" and she struggled +to get away from him. "I only put the +water in your glasses for fun—but I'm very +glad I did it—and I wish I had put dirty +water in—and I wish—let me go—I'll tell +papa, and he'll be very angry and—"</p> + +<p>"Bunny," said a soft reproachful voice, +"my dear child, what is the matter?" and +Miss Kerr laid her hand gently upon the +little girl's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"That nasty Ashton won't let me give +this loaf to a poor boy who is there begging," +cried Bunny; "he's very hungry and I want—"</p> + +<p>"Ashton is quite right, Bunny," said Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +Kerr gently; "give him back the loaf, dear. +It is not yours, so you have no right to give +it away. Have you no money of your own +to give the boy?"</p> + +<p>"No, I have not," cried Bunny bursting +into tears, "and I am sure papa would not +mind my giving the loaf away—he never does. +Ashton's a nasty, cross old thing;" and she +flung the loaf on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Ashton is only doing his duty, Bunny, +and you must not speak in that way."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wish he wouldn't do his duty +then," sobbed the little girl; "it's a great +shame of him to do his duty, when I tell +him not."</p> + +<p>"Come, now, dear, dry your eyes and give +this to the poor boy," said Miss Kerr kindly; +"see, I will lend you threepence to give to +him, and when your papa gives you some +pocket-money you can repay me. The boy +will like the money better than the bread, +I daresay, and you will feel that you are +giving something that is really your own."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, thank you!" cried Bunny +with delight, her tears drying up in an instant. +"You are good! You are kind!" and throw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>ing +her arms round Miss Kerr's neck she +kissed her over and over again; then seizing +the pennies she flew to the door, and handing +them to the boy said in a subdued voice: +"Here, boy, a good lady gave me these pennies +for you. I am a greedy little girl and spend +all my own money on sweets, but I'll save +up and pay Miss Kerr back very soon."</p> + +<p>"That is enough, Bunny," said the governess, +taking the child by the hand. "I have +something to tell you, dear, so come with me +now."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I will come," answered Bunny +quite meekly, and shutting the door, she +followed Miss Kerr down the hall.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap1_div.jpg" title="chap1_div" height="50" width="121" alt="chap1_div" /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_2.jpg" title="chap_2" height="100" width="400" alt="chap_2" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_ii" id="chapter_ii"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>PLEASANT NEWS FOR BUNNY.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap2_a.jpg" title="A" height="200" width="116" alt="A" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">nd</span> now, Bunny," said Miss Kerr, +as she led the little girl into the +library and took her on her knee, +"I am afraid you have been a very +naughty child. I do not like to +scold you, you know, but when children are +told to stay in one place they should do so, +and not run about all over the house in the +way you seem to have been doing."</p> + +<p>"But you were so long away," replied +Bunny, "and I was tired sitting there all by +myself. Sophie kept screaming at me not +to touch the flowers, so I had nothing to +do."</p> + +<p>"And what about the lesson? Did you +learn that?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't, it was so stupid," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +Bunny, "I got quite tired of it, and all the +letters went wrong, so I thought I would go +to the nursery and play with my toys, and +then when I went into the dining-room there +was nobody there, and I thought it would be +great fun to tease old Ashton, so I jumped +on the chairs and poured water into all the +glasses, and he was so angry; and oh it was +fun to see his face when he cried out, 'Miss +Bunny!'" and carried away with delight at +the recollection of her naughty trick, the +little girl clapped her hands and laughed long +and merrily.</p> + +<p>"But, my dear child, do you not know that +that was extremely naughty conduct?" said +Miss Kerr gravely. "It is very wicked to +make anyone angry, and it was very unkind +of you to play such a trick upon Ashton. +How would you like if he were to spoil your +toys or break your dolls for you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shouldn't like it at all," answered +Bunny; "I'd be awfully cross, and I'd get +papa to send him away. That would be a +good way to punish him, I know."</p> + +<p>"Well, Bunny, you think you could punish +him but he has no way of punishing you,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +so you should always be very careful not +to annoy or trouble him. Besides, my child, +we should never do anything to other people +that we know we would not like them to do +to us. God wishes us to be good and kind +to everyone about us, remember, and to be +unkind is to disobey Him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then, I'm very sorry that I was so +naughty," cried Bunny, "for Sophie told +me this morning that God has been good +and kind to me always, for she says He gave +me all the nice things I have, and my papa +and mama, so I should not like to vex Him +when He has been so kind to me."</p> + +<p>"If my little Bunny will just remember +that, whenever she feels inclined to be naughty +she will soon find it easy to be good, and she +will be a much happier child, for then she +will know that she is pleasing God who has +been good to her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will try, dear Miss Kerr, indeed I +will," said the little girl; "I'll be good and +kind to God, and you, and papa, and mama, +because you are all so good to me;" and she +laid her soft cheek against Miss Kerr's face.</p> + +<p>"That is right, darling," said the governess<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +with a smile; "and now that I have given +you a little lecture, and you have promised +to be good, I have a piece of news to tell +you that will, I am sure, give you great pleasure;" +and she smoothed the child's fair hair +with her hand.</p> + +<p>"Good news! Oh, dear Miss Kerr, do tell +me what it is," cried the little girl eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have been having a long talk with +your mama, Bunny, and—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know that. I saw you talk, +talk, talk, only I couldn't hear what you +were saying, because the window was shut."</p> + +<p>"No, I suppose not, dear, but listen. Your +mama says you have an uncle in India who +has a little son of seven years old—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know that, Miss Kerr! Why, that's +no news! Of course I know about Uncle +Jim and Cousin Mervyn. I never saw them +though, but still I know they are in India, an +awfully hot place it is, Sophie says."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so it is. But would you like to see +this Cousin Mervyn, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'd just love to see him—but is he +black? Sophie says the people in those countries +are black. Oh, I shouldn't like a black<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +cousin, Miss Kerr, indeed I should not," cried +Bunny in a piteous voice.</p> + +<p>"You little goose, he's not black at all," +cried Miss Kerr, laughing at the little girl's +look of consternation; "I have never seen him, +but his papa is supposed to be like your +mama, so I daresay he will have fair hair, +blue eyes, and pink cheeks something very +like your own."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm glad he is like that, for indeed I +could not bear a black cousin. Once I had +a black doll given to me for a present, and I +screamed and screamed till nurse put it away +out of the nursery."</p> + +<p>"It is certainly very lucky that your cousin +is not black, for it would never do to scream +at him, would it?" said Miss Kerr, "for he has +arrived in London and is coming here with +your papa to-morrow evening."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am glad! Oh, I am glad!" sang +Bunny, dancing round the room on the points +of her toes. "What fun it will be to have a +little cousin to play with! Will he stay long, +Miss Kerr?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a long time, Bunny," answered the +governess. "It is too hot in India for him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +to stay there any longer—indeed they think +he has stayed there too long already, and +your mama has promised to take care of him +until he is old enough to go to school."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be a nice long visit," said +the little girl; "he'll be staying with us just +as if it was home, and he was my own +brother."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, just so. He will be like your +brother, I am sure; and he is to have his +lessons with you. I am to teach you both."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I'll lend him my pony and I'll +let him play with my kittens. And oh, Miss +Kerr, I'll give him tea out of my own little +tea-set; and we'll have such fun."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, it will be very nice, and I hope +that little Bunny will be a good child and not +make her cousin naughty and teach him mischievous +tricks."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll be good, indeed, dear Miss Kerr. +I won't want to be naughty so much when +I have someone to play with, for it's always +when I feel lonely that I want to play tricks +on people."</p> + +<p>"Is that so really, you poor mite? Well, +you will not be lonely any more, Bunny, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +I hope you will try hard and learn to read +soon. When children can read they do not +want a companion so much, because they can +read pretty stories about other children and +so amuse themselves for hours together."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't want to read stories one bit," +said Bunny with a pout. "Sophie and +mama read lots of stories to me, so it +doesn't matter whether I can read them for +myself or not."</p> + +<p>"And what will you do when you grow +up, Bunny? Don't you think you would feel +very much ashamed if you could not read +when you had grown to be a tall lady?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no one would ever know, for I am +sure people never ask grown-up ladies if they +can read. Do they, now? No one ever asks +you or mama if you know how to read."</p> + +<p>"No, people never ask us if we can read, +certainly, Bunny," answered Miss Kerr laughing, +"but they would soon find out if we did +not, I can tell you. People who cannot read +seldom learn those things that everyone +should know, and so they are ignorant and +stupid. Surely you would not like Mervyn +to beat you at his lessons, would you?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>"Oh, but he's older than me," said Bunny, +"and, of course, he knows a great deal more +than me, and<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">——</span>"</p> + +<p>"Than <i>I</i>, Bunny, say he is older than <i>I</i> +am," corrected Miss Kerr. "Yes, he is older, +but I do not think he knows more than you +do. His papa says he has never been taught +anything but his letters, and he can hardly +speak English."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! Does he only speak French +then?" said Bunny with a look of alarm.</p> + +<p>"No, Hindustanee. That is the Indian +language, you know, and as he always had a +native nurse he does not know English very +perfectly. But we will soon teach him, won't +we, dear?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, it will be fun, and I'll try very +hard to learn to read well before he does! It +will be nice to have a cousin, won't it? I +wonder what he's like. But I'm sure he'll +be nice. I know he will. Don't you think +he'll be nice, Miss Kerr?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, I think it is very likely, but +you will know all about him to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wish to-morrow would come, quick, +quick!" cried Bunny; "the days and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +hours go over so slowly, and I do want to +see that little Indian."</p> + +<p>"Poor little boy! I daresay he will be +very tired and shy when he arrives. It is a +sad thing to leave father and friends and +come among strangers, Bunny," said Miss +Kerr, and there were tears in her eyes as she +gazed out over the garden.</p> + +<p>"Dear Miss Kerr, why should you feel +sorry for Mervyn? I'm so glad that he is +coming here," said Bunny softly, and she put +her little hand into Miss Kerr's. "Why +should you cry for him? We will be very +kind to him, you and I, and papa and +mama."</p> + +<p>"Yes, darling, of course," answered Miss +Kerr stroking the little hand. "But I was +not thinking of Mervyn, but of someone I +know, who had to leave her dear home, her +father and mother, and brothers and sisters, +to go be governess to a wild little girl, who +did not care to learn her lessons and did not +love her at all."</p> + +<p>"Why, that's like me and you! But I do +love you; oh, I do love you!" cried the child, +and she flung her arms round Miss Kerr's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +neck. "You are so good and kind, and I am +sorry you had to leave your little brothers +and sisters, and I won't be wild, and I'll love +you very much."</p> + +<p>"If you do, Bunny, you will make me +very happy, and I think you will soon be a +very good little girl," and Miss Kerr kissed +the eager face over and over again. "But +run away now and get ready for tea. I have +some letters to write for the post, and I shall +just have time if you run off at once."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Bunny jumping off Miss +Kerr's knee. "I must go to tell Sophie +the news." And away she ran, calling, +"Sophie, Sophie," as she went up the stairs.</p> + +<p>"She has a good little heart, and will become +a fine character in time, if she is properly +managed," said Miss Kerr to herself as +the child left the room. "But she has been +terribly spoilt and neglected. If the boy +from India is as great a pickle as Miss +Bunny, I shall have my hands very full +indeed," and with something between a sigh +and a laugh, Miss Kerr seated herself at the +table and began to write her letters.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap8_div.jpg" title="chap2_div" height="15" width="140" alt="chap2_div" /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_3.jpg" title="chap_3" height="97" width="400" alt="chap_3" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_iii" id="chapter_iii"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>BUNNY GETS UP EARLY.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap3_f.jpg" title="F" height="200" width="117" alt="F" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">or</span> a long time after she went to bed +that night, Bunny could not go to +sleep, and lay tossing about from +side to side, wishing over and over +again that it was morning, that she +might get up and put all her toys and books +in order, so that they should look as nice as +possible when she came to show them to +the new cousin.</p> + +<p>At last she dropped off into a sound sleep, +and did not wake again until the sun was +shining brightly into her room. She jumped +up and looked about to see if Sophie had +gone to get her bath ready. But the maid +lay fast asleep in her bed at the other side +of the room, and poor Bunny felt sure she +would not get up for a very long time yet.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +She felt ready to cry at the thoughts of lying +there for so long doing nothing, whilst the +sun was shining so brightly over the sea and +dancing so merrily up and down the nursery +walls. Suddenly, however, a happy idea +presented itself to her mind, and she sprang +out of her crib with a soft well-pleased little +laugh.</p> + +<p>"It will be such fun," she whispered to +herself, "and Sophie will get such a start +when she sees the crib empty! But I must +go about very gently or she might wake up +and send me back to bed."</p> + +<p>So the little girl slipped very quietly about +the room, and struggled bravely with buttons +and tapes, as she did her best to dress herself +without the assistance of her maid.</p> + +<p>"They're all upside down and tied in big +knots," she said ruefully, "but Sophie will +just have to do them all over again when +she gets up. Oh, dear, where are my boots, +I wonder? I can't see them anywhere about. +Well, I must go out in these, I suppose;" and +sitting down on the floor she put on a pair +of dainty Queen Anne shoes, with satin bows +and steel stars, that she had worn the even<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>ing +before when she went down to the drawing-room +to see her mama.</p> + +<p>At this moment Sophie turned round with +a loud snore, and Bunny gave a start of +alarm, as she looked quickly towards the +bed. If Sophie awoke and saw what she +was doing, all her fun would surely be +spoiled, and she would be sent back to her +crib in disgrace.</p> + +<p>Very cautiously then she got up off the +floor, seized her hat that lay on the chest +of drawers, and opening the door as softly +as possible, flew along the corridor and away +down the stairs.</p> + +<p>Not a servant was to be seen about, for it +was not yet seven o'clock, and so Bunny +passed on without any interruption into the +dining-room, and stood on tip-toe at the side-board +looking anxiously to see if there was +anything there for her to eat. But there was +not even a crust to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Nasty old Ashton!" she cried, "he might +have left a few pieces of bread for me; but +he wouldn't, I'm sure, even if he had known +I was coming. I must get something for +my dear pony, now that I am up, so I'll go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +off to the larder and see what I can find +there."</p> + +<p>So away went Bunny in high glee at her +clever thought; but when she arrived at the +larder door she found it locked, and she +was about to turn away sad and disappointed +when a sudden jingling of keys was +heard in the passage, the kitchen door opened, +and Mrs. Brown, the cook, appeared upon the +scene.</p> + +<p>"Miss Bunny, dear, what brings you here +at such an hour? And law but you are +dressed queer! But, indeed, them Frenchies +are little good with their new-fangled ways. +It's nurse that used to dress you smart, deary, +and as for Sophie, she beats all;" and the good +woman held up her hands in dismay at the +child's untidy appearance.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sophie didn't dress me at all!" cried +Bunny. "She doesn't even know I'm up, +for she's fast asleep. But I was so tired lying +there listening to Sophie snoring that I +thought I would get up and go out. I want +to take my pony a piece of bread, so please +give me some for him and some for myself, +Mrs. Brown, for I'm very hungry."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>"Bless your heart, of course I will," cried +the good-natured woman, as she unlocked the +door, and cutting two large slices of bread +and butter, handed them to the little girl.</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you," said Bunny; "Frisk will +like this, I am sure. Good morning, Mrs. +Brown, and mind you don't tell Sophie where +I am, if she comes to look for me."</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, deary, I won't give her +any news of you. I don't admire her and +her stuck-up French airs, so she won't get +much out of me."</p> + +<p>But Bunny did not wait to hear the end +of the good woman's speech against poor +Sophie; she had got all she wanted, so away +she ran to pay her morning visit to her little +pony.</p> + +<p>When Frisk heard the stable door opening +and a footstep approaching his stall, he +whisked his tail and twisted his head as well +as he could, to see who was coming to visit +him at such an early hour. And when he +found it was his little mistress, and heard her +voice at his ear he neighed with delight, and +rubbed his velvety nose up and down her +frock.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>"Dear old Frisk," she cried, patting his +neck, "there's a little cousin coming all the +way from India to stay with us. Sophie is +not glad, but I am, and Miss Kerr is, and +you must be glad too, old man. And he's +not black at all, Frisk, oh, no, and it is very, +very silly of you to think so, sir. You must +be good to him, dear little pony, and give +him nice rides, and then he'll love you, just +as I do, and we'll all be friends together. So +now eat this, little Frisk," she continued, and +breaking off a piece of the bread, she held it +up to the pony's nose.</p> + +<p>But suddenly Bunny gave a little shriek, +and drew her hand quickly away; for without +intending it, Frisk had actually bitten +his kind little mistress. The bread she +offered him was so small, and his mouth was +so big, that the child's fingers got rather far +in among his teeth, and when Frisk's white +grinders came down upon the dainty offered +him, they met rather sharply upon poor +Bunny's thumb. The skin was slightly cut, +and as a little stream of blood ran down her +finger the child grew frightened and began +to cry.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>"Oh, Frisk, Frisk, why did you bite? I +never thought you would do such a thing," +she cried reproachfully. "I never, never knew +you do such a thing before;" and sinking +down on the straw by his side, she tried to +stop the blood by rolling her finger tightly +up in the corner of her pinafore. "Just when +I wanted to tell the new cousin that you +were a good, kind pony, you go and bite me—oh +dear, oh dear, I am very sorry, Frisk, I +am indeed."</p> + +<p>But in spite of the little girl's sorrowful +lecture, Frisk did not in the least know that +he had done anything wrong, and poking his +soft nose into Bunny's lap, he carried off the +remaining piece of bread and ate it with +much relish.</p> + +<p>"You artful old thing," cried Bunny, delighted +with his cleverness, and smiling +through her tears, "if you hadn't bit me I'd +have said you were the best and dearest little +pony alive;" and forgetting her anger at him +for hurting her, she jumped up and patted +and kissed his soft silky nose.</p> + +<p>"Where is Mademoiselle Bunny? Ah! +that child will be the death of me. Jean,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +have you seen Meess Bunny anywhere about?" +cried Sophie, just outside the stable door; +and the little girl knew that her hour was +come and that she was going to get a good +scolding.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Bunny is in there, talking to +Frisk, Mamzelle Sophie," answered the groom.</p> + +<p>"Little naughty one! Ah, these English +children are so dreadful!" cried Sophie, and +in a moment Bunny was dragged out from +her seat on the straw and carried away to +the nursery.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she screamed as soon as they were +inside the door, "what is that I see on your +dress, mademoiselle? Blood, I declare! Oh, +what will your mama say? She will send +away that beast of a pony I am sure, and then +you will not make such early walks to the +stable."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sophie, Sophie, don't tell! don't tell!" +cried Bunny, "Frisk did not mean to hurt +me I am sure, and it's nearly well now. +Look, it has stopped bleeding already, so +don't tell mama, pray don't," and the little +girl raised her eyes full of tears to the maid's +face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>"Well, I won't tell if you will promise +me never to slip out of your bed and away +out of the house again as you have done just +now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I never will, I never will, Sophie!" +cried Bunny, "but do say you won't tell. I +couldn't bear to see Frisk sent away."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, don't cry any more," said +Sophie good-naturedly. "Be a good enfant, +and I will say not anything about it."</p> + +<p>"Oh! you dear, darling Sophie, I'll be so +good, so good!" cried the little girl, "I'll be +so good that you'll never have to scold me +any more."</p> + +<p>"Ma foi, what a change that will be!" +cried Sophie, "if you get so good as all that +I will send for the doctor."</p> + +<p>"For the doctor!" exclaimed Bunny in +surprise. "Why would you send for him?"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, mademoiselle, because I +will surely think you are ill if you get to be +an angel like that; but I am very certain I +shall have to scold you many times before +this evening comes."</p> + +<p>"Very likely, Sophie, but still I'm good +now," said Bunny with a merry little laugh,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +and as the maid gave the last touch to her +hair, the last pull to her sash, she ran out of +the nursery and away to her mama with +whom she always had her breakfast.</p> + +<p>Bunny was in a wild state of excitement +all that day, and Sophie and Miss Kerr found +it very hard to keep her in order and prevent +her disturbing her mama, who was not +well, and could not bear much noise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, how long the day is! How long +the day is!" she cried over and over again. +"I don't think evening will ever come, Miss +Kerr, I don't, indeed."</p> + +<p>"It will come fast enough, Bunny dear, +if you will only have patience. Try and +forget that you are expecting anything to +happen."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could! I wish I could! But I +do so wish to see what Mervyn is like."</p> + +<p>"You impatient little goose, do try and +think of something else and time will go over +much faster. But I tell you what, Bun," +said Miss Kerr, when they had finished their +early dinner, "we will go and take a good +run on the sands and that will pass the afternoon +very nicely for us."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>"But they might come when we are away, +and that would be dreadful."</p> + +<p>"No, they won't, because they can't," said +Miss Kerr with a smile. "The train does +not come in until seven, and it is only three +now, so you see we have plenty of time for +a nice walk."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap3_div.jpg" title="chap3_div" height="50" width="132" alt="chap3_div" /></div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_4.jpg" title="chap_4" height="96" width="400" alt="chap_4" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_iv" id="chapter_iv"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>BUNNY GETS A FRIGHT.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap4_d.jpg" title="D" height="200" width="112" alt="D" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">o</span> be quick, Sophie," cried Bunny as +she rushed into the nursery after +her walk upon the sands, "Miss +Kerr says it is half-past five, and +papa and Mervyn will be here at +seven, so do be quick and dress me as fast as +ever you can, for I want to be down in the +hall, ready to jump out at them the minute +they come to the door."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Sophie without moving from +her chair at the window. "What haste we +are in, certainly. But you may just keep +still, Miss Bunny, for I am not going to +touch you for one half hour. What is the +use for me to dress you now, when long before +seven you would be so black as a sweep +again, I know."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>"Oh, what a bother!" cried Bunny, stamping +her foot and flinging her pretty white +hat upon the floor. "You are a nasty thing, +and I wish you had not come to be my maid +at all, for you never do anything I ask you +to do. I wish dear old nurse was back with +me again, she used to be so nice, and always +did whatever I wanted."</p> + +<p>"Old nurse was an old silly," answered +Sophie, stitching away at her work. "She +neg-lect you and make you so naughty, and +it is for me to keep you in order and make +you good."</p> + +<p>"Well, I won't be kept in order, and I +won't be made good—not one bit," cried +Bunny bursting into tears. "It's very unkind +of you not to dress me in time to see my +papa, and he'll be very angry with you."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"> +<a name="illus050" id="illus050"></a> +<img src="images/illus050.jpg" title="illus050" height="611" width="400" alt="ilus050" /></div> + +<h5 class="caption" style="padding-bottom: 2em;">BUNNY WELCOMES HER FATHER.</h5> + +<p>"Come, Miss Bunny, don't be a silly baby," +said Sophie, "I'll dress you soon enough, do +not fear that. You had so much best go +and make tidy that doll's house, for the little +cousin will be ashamed to see it in so much +of disorder."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to tidy my doll's house, and +I don't care whether Mervyn likes it or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +not, not a bit!" said Bunny, and taking off +one little glove she threw it into the very +furthest corner of the room, and then rolling +the other into a ball she threw it at +Sophie's head as she sat bending over her +work.</p> + +<p>But the maid did not take the slightest +notice of the young lady, and without another +word went quietly on with her sewing.</p> + +<p>When Bunny saw that Sophie was really +determined not to dress her for some time, +she sat down on the floor in silence, and leaning +her head up against the side of her crib, +kicked about for some minutes in a very ill-tempered +way indeed. After a while she +grew tired of this conduct, which to her great +surprise did not seem to make Sophie the +least bit angry, and not knowing what to do +with herself she sat staring about the room +with a very sulky expression on her little face.</p> + +<p>But by degrees the tears dried up, the cross +look disappeared, and jumping suddenly to +her feet, she trotted off to the other end of +the room. Pulling open the wide door of +the doll's house, she set to work very industriously +to put it in order.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>She brushed the carpets, dusted the chairs, +shook out the dolls' dresses and set them out +in the drawing-room as if they were waiting +to receive their visitors.</p> + +<p>"Now it's tidy, Sophie," she cried with a +bright little smile. "Mervyn will think it a +very nice doll's house. Won't he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear enfant, I am sure he will," +said Sophie kindly, "and now as you have +been good and quiet for so long, I will begin +to dress you if you like."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is a dear good Sophie. I am so +afraid that I shall not be ready when papa +comes."</p> + +<p>"You will be ready, never fear," said +Sophie, and taking off the child's frock, she +began to wash her face and hands.</p> + +<p>"You hurt, Sophie, you hurt," cried Bunny +pettishly, as the maid combed out her long +fair hair.</p> + +<p>"Bah, no I don't hurt you, mademoiselle, +except when you pull your head aside. But +in truth it is hard to comb your hair properly +when you move and fidget about. You are +very difficult to manage to-day."</p> + +<p>"I tell you, you do hurt me—you pull as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +hard as anything," cried Bunny growing very +red.</p> + +<p>"Very well, miss, if you are in such +humour," cried Sophie, "you may just stand +there till you get back to your temper again. +I'm going into the next room to get your +frock, and I hope that when I come back +you will be quiet and let me dress your hair +like a little lady," and the maid flounced out +of the nursery, leaving Bunny standing before +the glass in her short white petticoat, +with one shoe off and the other on, her hair +hanging in disorder about her shoulders, and +her face puckered up in dismay at Sophie's +sudden and unexpected departure.</p> + +<p>"Oh, why was I so cross about my hair?" +she cried. "Papa and Mervyn will be here +directly, and just look at the state I am in. +What shall I do? What shall I do? Sophie, +I'll be good. Do come back, and get me +ready to go down."</p> + +<p>But Sophie did not answer, nor did she +return, and poor Bunny sat down on the edge +of her crib, and in spite of all the efforts she +made to keep them back, the big tears rolled +slowly down her cheeks.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>Suddenly the sound of wheels was heard +upon the gravel below, and brushing away +her tears, the little girl started to her feet +and ran over to the window.</p> + +<p>A cab covered with luggage was coming +in at the big gate, and in a minute she saw +her papa nodding gaily up to his little Bunny, +with a bright well-pleased smile upon his +dear face.</p> + +<p>Without a moment's thought as to the +state she was in, or of what her papa or the +little boy from India might think of her in +such a condition, Bunny dropped the blind, +and with a joyful cry of "Papa, papa, my +own dear papa," she rushed out of the nursery +and away down the stairs.</p> + +<p>"My little darling! My sweet little Bun," +exclaimed Mr. Dashwood, as the small wild-looking +figure came running along the hall +and jumped into his arms. "Why, dear, why +did you come out of the nursery before you +were dressed?" he said, as he smoothed back +the ruffled hair and kissed the hot cheeks of +the excited child. "You are in a strange +state to receive visitors, Bunny dear, and I +am afraid cousin Mervyn will be shocked at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +my wild girl, for he is a very tidy little man, +I can tell you. Mervyn, this is your cousin +Ethel, commonly called Bunny, I hope you +will be very good friends," and he put out his +hand to a pale gentle-looking boy of about +seven years old, who was clinging shyly to +the skirts of an Indian Ayah, as though afraid +to let her go from beside him for an instant.</p> + +<p>When Bunny raised her head from her +papa's shoulder to look at her new cousin, her +eyes suddenly lighted upon the grinning +black face of the strange foreign-looking +woman, and with one wild yell of terror she +turned away, and buried her little face in her +father's coat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, send that dreadful thing away!" she +cried, "I'm not half so naughty as I used to +be! And I have promised Miss Kerr to be +so good! Oh, papa, papa, don't give your +little Bunny to that dreadful black woman."</p> + +<p>"My darling, that is Mervyn's nurse, and +he loves her very dearly. See how he clings +to her and begs her to stay with him! Just +look how kind she is to him!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no, papa, she's a bogie, I am sure," +cried the child, clinging to him more ner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>vously +than ever. "Sophie always tells me +a bogie will come for me if I am naughty, +and I was naughty just now because Sophie +pulled my hair, and I was cross, and cried +and stamped my foot and—"</p> + +<p>"My poor foolish little girl, she is not a +bogie, but a good kind woman—her face is +black, but she can't help that. It was very +wrong of Sophie to frighten you about bogies, +very wrong—there is no such thing in the +world."</p> + +<p>"Ah, monsieur, monsieur, I'm so sorry +Meess Bunny has been so naughty to run down +to you in such a state," cried Sophie running +into the hall with a very angry look on her +face. "I just left her for a minute to get +her frock, and when I came back she was +gone."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sophie, Sophie, don't scold me, please," +cried Bunny, "I'll go back to the nursery, +and let you dress me now. Oh, take me +away quick, for if I see that dreadful face, I +shall scream again, I know I shall;" and +with one little hand over her eyes that she +might not see the terrible creature again, +Bunny flung herself into Sophie's arms and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +was carried off upstairs to have her toilet +completed for dinner.</p> + +<p>"Poor little monkey!" said Mr. Dashwood +laughing, "I never thought she would be so +easily frightened. Ashton, take the nurse +down to the housekeeper's room, and tell +the servants to look after her, and give her +her dinner. Come, Mervyn, my little man, +I want to take you to see your aunt."</p> + +<p>"Yes, uncle," answered the little boy in a +shy nervous voice, and looking up into the +Ayah's face to see what she wished him to do.</p> + +<p>"Go at once," she said in Hindustanee, +and then Mervyn went up to his uncle, and +putting his little hand into his, allowed him +to lead him down the passage to the drawing-room.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap4_div.jpg" title="chap4_div" height="50" width="123" alt="chap4_div" /></div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_5.jpg" title="chap_5" height="96" width="400" alt="chap_5" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_v" id="chapter_v"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE INDIAN.</h3> + +<p class="figleft"><img src="images/chap5_m.jpg" title="M" height="200" width="117" alt="M" /></p> +<p><span class="smcap">rs Dashwood</span> lay on the sofa +in the drawing-room, and Miss +Kerr sat beside her reading aloud.</p> + +<p>The two children, Bunny and +Mervyn, were seated side by side +upon a large white woolly rug in the bow-window, +and they whispered together in +very low tones lest they should disturb the +ladies by their noise.</p> + +<p>Bunny was nursing a pretty black kitten, +with a red ribbon round its neck, whilst +Mervyn sat with his little hands clasped +over his knees, looking out at the blue +sparkling sea, with a well-pleased expression +on his thin pale face.</p> + +<p>"What a lovely cool place England is!" +he whispered; "it feels so comfortable and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +nice here, and that sea is so beautiful to +look at."</p> + +<p>"Yes, to look at," answered Bunny, nodding +her head; "but, oh! Mervyn, wouldn't +you feel afraid to go into it, and have your +face stuck right under the water, and held +there till you had no breath, and—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would be horrible!" cried Mervyn +with a frightened look; "my papa +would be angry if I were put into the sea in +that way. Oh! I will write and tell him +if—"</p> + +<p>"Well, I know he wrote to say that bathing +would be very good for you," said +Bunny, "and mama told Miss Kerr this +very morning she was sure it would be. +But I tell you, Mervyn, it's only Sophie that +is so rough and nasty. One day I went to +bathe with Miss Kerr, and it was lovely! +She told me when she was going to dip me, +and she let me play at the edge, and I took +dolly in and I dipped her, and it was such fun."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I will ask Miss Kerr always +to bathe me," replied Mervyn; "I should die, +I am sure, if I were pushed under the water +and could not get my breath."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>"Oh! I was often and often pushed down +that way by Sophie, and I didn't die at all; +but I kicked and screamed most dreadfully," +cried Bunny; "but then, mama says I am +very strong, and Sophie said last night that +you were a misserble creature, so thin and +white."</p> + +<p>"Sophie is very rude!" exclaimed Mervyn +with a slight flush; "I am not a miserable +creature; I can't help being white; +everyone is in India, because it's so hot."</p> + +<p>"That is funny!" cried the little girl, "for +Sophie said all Indians were black, and I +thought you would have a little black face +like Pussy here, only Miss Kerr told me you +would be as white as me; but you're whiter, +much whiter," and she laid her small plump +pink hand on Mervyn's thin white one.</p> + +<p>"I don't like your Sophie," cried Mervyn +impatiently; "she talks in such a queer way, +and she's not half so nice as my dear old +Indian nurse. I do wish she had been able +to stay in England with me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think she was a horrid fright!" +cried Bunny, "with her nasty black face +and her dreadful flappy wild dress, and I'm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +sure nobody could understand a word she +said."</p> + +<p>"I could," said Mervyn with a sigh, "and +I liked talking Hindustanee much better +than English."</p> + +<p>"But it sounds so silly!" cried Bunny; +"I think it's a great pity people shouldn't +always speak English everywhere, for that +would be so plain and easy."</p> + +<p>"Well, I would much rather everyone +would speak Hindustanee, for that would be +much nicer."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! I don't think so," said Bunny; +"and I think you speak English very well."</p> + +<p>"Do you?" said Mervyn, smiling; "papa +did not; and do you know, I can't always +think of the right words for things."</p> + +<p>"Oh! just ask me and I will tell you," +replied Bunny jauntily, "for I never have to +think for my words at all."</p> + +<p>"Bunny, dear," said Mrs. Dashwood from +her sofa, "I think you have nursed that +kitten quite long enough; the poor little +thing looks very tired. Put it into its basket +like a good child."</p> + +<p>"Very well, mama," answered Bunny, and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +jumping up, she ran over to a corner of the +room where stood a pretty round basket, +which was always used as a snug bed for +Miss Puss.</p> + +<p>Bunny dropped her pet gently in upon the +soft cushion, and after much stroking and +tucking up, she stole away on tip-toe to her +mother's side.</p> + +<p>But Pussy was in a playful mood, and as +soon as the little girl's back was turned she +sprang lightly out of her bed and went +scampering gaily round the room.</p> + +<p>"Naughty, naughty puss!" cried Bunny +laughing, and off she went in pursuit of the +runaway.</p> + +<p>"Bunny, dear Bunny, I can't bear that +noise," cried Mrs. Dashwood, as her little +daughter tumbled over a footstool and knocked +down a chair. "I can't bear it indeed, dear +child, so I think you had better go out. +Sophie will take you for a walk, as I want +Miss Kerr to read to me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, mama! I like Miss Kerr much +better than Sophie," cried Bunny, "and so +does Mervyn. Do let Miss Kerr come."</p> + +<p>"But, Bunny, dear," said Miss Kerr, "you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +would not like poor mama to have no one +to read to her, would you? It is so dull for +her all day on the sofa by herself. You +would not ask me to leave her, would you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, no, dear, darling mama, I will +not ask Miss Kerr to come, not for a minute!" +cried Bunny as, kneeling beside the sofa, she +threw her arms round her mother's neck and +kissed her vehemently. "I could not bear +to think of you being lonely, mamey dear. +But do let us stay here now, and go out in +the afternoon with Miss Kerr. Mervyn can't +bear Sophie."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for that, my little man," said +Mrs. Dashwood, drawing the boy towards +her; "Sophie is sharp and quick, but she is +very good-natured, I think, so I hope you +will try and like her."</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, aunt," answered Mervyn, flushing, +"I only meant that I would rather have +my own dear nurse, and that I was very +sorry she had been sent away to India again."</p> + +<p>"She was not sent away, dear," answered +Mrs. Dashwood; "she went by her own +wish. She was fond of you, Mervyn, but +she did not like to live in England, so she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +hurried back to India as soon as she could. +It will be better for you to learn English +well, and try to pick up a little French from +Sophie, than to be always talking with an +Indian, my child. But the first thing you +have to do, Mervyn, is to get fat and rosy +like Bunny here. And you must grow tall, +dear boy, for you are very, very small for +your age; you must grow as fast as you can +or this little girl will soon be the tallest," +and Mrs. Dashwood pinched her daughter's +plump cheek.</p> + +<p>"Oh! but mama, dear, he can't make himself +grow," remarked Bunny, as she stood up +to measure herself with her cousin. "He +has not got a key to wind up the works of +himself, so he must just wait small till he +begins to grow big."</p> + +<p>"You are sharp enough, Miss Pert," said +her mother, laughing. "I wish you would +learn to be more steady and to remember +what is said to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I can remember," cried Bunny gaily; +"I've got a splendid memory, haven't I, Miss +Kerr?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think you have, dear," said Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +Kerr gravely; "but I am afraid you do not +always remember at the right time. Eh! +Bunny?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," said the little girl, hanging +her head; "I quite forgot when I got up and +went to feed Frisk. But I don't think God +minded that much; it was not much harm."</p> + +<p>"God is always displeased at disobedience, +Bunny," said Mrs. Dashwood very seriously. +"The first thing God expects of a little child +is that she should be obedient, and so my +Bunny must try and remember things that +she is not allowed to do, and then be very +careful not to do them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, mama, I will try," said Bunny in a +subdued voice.</p> + +<p>"That is right, dear, and I hope little +Mervyn will do the same."</p> + +<p>"Yes, aunt, I will indeed; papa told me +to be very good until he came home, and I +mean to be," he said, drawing himself up in +a determined manner.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I am sure you will do Bunny +good and help her to remember. But +now run away like good children and tell +Sophie to take you out for a walk. It is a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +lovely morning, and a run on the sands will +give you an appetite for your dinner."</p> + +<p>"Very well, mama," cried Bunny gaily, +and away she darted out of the room singing +and shouting at the top of her voice.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, aunt," said Mervyn gently, +and he followed his little cousin in a slow +dignified manner, turning quietly to shut the +drawing-room door behind him.</p> + +<p>"What a harum-scarum that Bunny is!" +said Mrs. Dashwood with a sigh. "It is very +hard to make an impression on her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is certainly, at least for more than +a few minutes at a time," answered Miss +Kerr; "she is always so ready to be good, no +matter what she has done, that it is not +easy to scold her much. But she is a good-hearted +child, and I am sure in a short time +you will see a great change in her."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, indeed," said Mrs. Dashwood, +"for she is a constant worry at present and +extremely hard to manage."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap5_div.jpg" title="chap5_div" height="20" width="150" alt="chap5_div" /></div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_6.jpg" title="chap_6" height="99" width="400" alt="chap_6" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_vi" id="chapter_vi"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>BUNNY FORGETS AGAIN.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap6_o.jpg" title="O" height="200" width="95" alt="O" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">ut</span> of the gate and down the road +went the two little cousins hand in +hand, whilst close behind them +walked Sophie, holding up a big +umbrella, and carrying a yellow-covered +novel under her arm.</p> + +<p>On they went; the little ones laughing and +talking pleasantly together, until they came +to the entrance of the Spa, a gay promenade +which the fashionables of the place were in +the habit of frequenting in the morning to +inhale the sea breezes, listen to sweet music +and meet their friends.</p> + +<p>Sophie liked the Spa, for there she saw +much to delight and amuse her, whilst on the +sands she always felt dull and weary.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>But Bunny's ideas and those of her maid +were not at all the same, for the little girl +loved the sands, and could spend hours there +digging and building castles of all shapes and +sizes. Every day there was an angry dispute +between the nurse and child as to where +they should spend their time between breakfast +and dinner; sometimes one came off victorious +and sometimes the other. This morning, +as usual, Bunny was quite determined to +go on the sands, and Sophie was equally resolved +to go down to the Spa.</p> + +<p>"Mama said we were to go on the sands, +Sophie, and I hate that old Spa," cried Bunny, +making a rush towards the steps that led +down to the sands; "I've got my spade, and +so has Mervyn, and it's very unkind of you +not to come there when it looks so nice and +we both want to go."</p> + +<p>"You'll just please to come where I tell +you, mademoiselle," said Sophie, making a +dive at the little girl, and dragging her +through the turnstile and on to the bridge +that led into the Cliff grounds.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think you go to play any of +your bad tricks on me. It is enough difficult<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +minding two of you in here without running +all over the sands for you."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Bunny," said Mervyn gently, +as they walked along together, "Miss Kerr +will come on the sands with us after dinner, +perhaps, and then we will have fine fun."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," answered the little girl with +a toss of her head, and speaking in a loud +voice so that the maid might hear her; "Miss +Kerr always does what I ask her to do, but +Sophie is a regular cross-patch."</p> + +<p>"Sit down here, mademoiselle, and try to +behave like a lady," cried Sophie, as she +seated herself upon a bench at the top of the +cliff, overlooking the promenade and sea.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't want to sit down, I want to +walk," cried Bunny tearfully; "why, we have +just come out."</p> + +<p>"Of course you want to do exactly what +I tell you not to do," said Sophie angrily; +"sit down, both of you, when I tell you," and +she lifted first one and then the other, and +placed them very roughly upon the bench.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes a friend of Sophie's +approached them, and after some pressing +she took a seat beside the maid, and the two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +children were pushed away by themselves to +the other end of the bench.</p> + +<p>"How long an age it is since I've seen you, +Kitty!" cried Sophie, smiling pleasantly upon +the new-comer.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is a long time," answered her +friend, "and I've lots of news for you. I've +heard of a place—but it might be dangerous +to say much just now," and she glanced at +the children.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they will not pay attention," cried +Sophie, "but it's easy to get rid of them if +you like. Meess Bunny, you can run and play +up and down for a little with your cousin. +But do not go very far."</p> + +<p>"That is nice!" exclaimed Bunny gaily; +"thank you, Sophie, very much," and jumping +off the seat, she took Mervyn by the hand and +dragged him away for a race down the hill.</p> + +<p>"What is that, Bunny? What is that?" +cried Mervyn suddenly, and he pointed his +finger towards the far end of the Spa. "It's +like a train, at least one carriage of a train, +and it's running so fast up the side of the +cliff, and, oh dear! I declare there is another +one just the same coming down past it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>"That is the lift, Mervyn; doesn't it look +very funny hanging all down like that? Do +you know, I went in it once with papa and it +was lovely. It went along so smooth and so +fast."</p> + +<p>"I would like so much to go in it," said +Mervyn, "I wonder if uncle will take me +some day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am sure he will, and me too," cried +Bunny, skipping gaily along. "But I tell you +what, Mervyn, wouldn't it be fun to go off +now, all by ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Now!" exclaimed Mervyn in surprise, +"and what would Sophie say?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she will never know," said Bunny. +"We'll go up in the lift and run down those +paths among the trees ever so fast, and get +back to her before she knows we have gone +away at all. She always has so much to say +to that friend of hers."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but don't you have to pay to go up +in the lift?" asked Mervyn, "and I have no +money. Have you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course we must pay, but it's only a +penny each, I know," answered Bunny, "and +I have got twopence in my pocket that papa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +gave me this morning. I was going to give +it to Miss Kerr, but I won't now."</p> + +<p>"To Miss Kerr! Why should you give her +your money?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's a secret of mine. But I don't +mind telling you, Mervyn, only you must not +tell anyone, will you now? Promise you +won't, like a good boy."</p> + +<p>"I promise," answered Mervyn earnestly; +"I would not tell anyone for the world."</p> + +<p>"Well, one day Miss Kerr lent me three +pennies to give to a poor boy, and I said I +would pay her back very soon."</p> + +<p>"Then I would not spend the pennies," said +Mervyn decidedly; "keep them, Bunny, and +give them to Miss Kerr when we go home."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; I would much rather go in the lift," +cried Bunny. "Miss Kerr won't mind, for +she said I need not be in a hurry to pay it."</p> + +<p>"Still I think it would be better," began +Mervyn solemnly, "to pay Miss—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, bother! Never mind thinking, but +come along, or we will not have time to go +up in the lift before Sophie wants to go home +for her dinner."</p> + +<p>"I should like to go up in it very much,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +said Mervyn weakly, and casting longing +looks at the distant lift, "but, indeed, +Bunny—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are silly!" cried the little girl. +"Come on quick or we sha'n't have time," +and grasping his hand, she hurried him down +the steps, with just one backward glance to +make sure that Sophie was still safe upon +her bench. The maid's face was turned +away towards her friend, who seemed to be +telling a very interesting story; they were +both completely occupied and quite unaware +of what was going on about them.</p> + +<p>"We shall have plenty of time!" said +Bunny growing bold at the sight of the back +of Sophie's head. "So come along, Mervyn, +and see what the lift is like."</p> + +<p>There was a great crowd of ladies and +gentlemen walking up and down the promenade, +and it took the children a long time +to make their way as far as the band-stand, +and even then they were at some distance +from the wonderful lift that had attracted +the little stranger so much.</p> + +<p>As they hurried along, pushing their way +right and left through the people, the band<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +began to play the "Blue Danube Waltzes," +and Mervyn stopped short in delight.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a lovely waltz!" he cried. +"Bunny dear, do let us stay here and listen +to it. I'd much rather hear the music than +go up in the lift, I would, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, no," cried Bunny, "I'm tired of +that old band, it's a stupid old thing! We +can come and listen to it to-morrow if you +like; but do come on now, you can't think +how nice it is flying up the cliff in the lift; +besides, I am quite sure that we sha'n't get a +chance to go another day."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well, if you want to go so much; +but really, Bunny, I would far rather stay +and hear the music," said Mervyn, "I would +indeed."</p> + +<p>"Bother the music! Do come, like a good +boy," cried the little girl impatiently, and +catching him by the hand she dragged him +away through the gate that led to the lift.</p> + +<p>There was a great crowd of people of all +kinds waiting to go up in the lift, for it was +getting near luncheon hour at the hotels, and +many were anxious to be in good time for +that pleasant meal.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>Our little friends, Bunny and Mervyn, +were so small that they were a good deal +knocked about by the crowd, and the lift +went off several times before they managed +to push themselves anywhere near the front. +At last the conductor noticed the two mites, +and stepping forward in a kindly way, he +took them by the hand, helped them into +the carriage, and seating them side by side, +remarked with a smile:</p> + +<p>"You're a funny pair to be sure! Where +is your nurse?"</p> + +<p>"She's on the Spa, at least on a bench +just at the top of the steps," said Bunny +gaily as she arranged her short skirts about +her on the seat. "My cousin is a stranger +here, so I have brought him to see what the +lift is like."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said the man with a laugh. +"What a kind little lady you are to be sure;" +and then, as the carriage was full, he banged +the door and away they went.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it nice, Mervyn? Aren't you glad +I brought you?" asked Bunny in a patronizing +tone. "It is much nicer in here than +sitting up on that bench. Isn't it?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>"Yes, I suppose it is," answered Mervyn +doubtfully, "but oh, Bunny, I don't much +like it! I have a sort of feeling as if I were +in a ship, and it makes me giddy to look out—indeed +it does."</p> + +<p>"Don't look out then," said Bunny decisively. +"But really, Mervyn, I think it's +lovely—it's so—Oh, dear what is that?" she +cried in alarm, as with a harsh grating noise +the lift they were in, came to a sudden stand-still, +and the descending one shot quickly +past them.</p> + +<p>"Something gone wrong, I expect," grumbled +an old gentleman beside her; "ah, they +have to let us go down again! What an +awful nuisance!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, sir, is there going to be an +accident?" cried Bunny in a voice of terror, +and growing very pale. "My cousin is just +come from India, and I am sure he will be +frightened," and she put her little arm round +Mervyn as if to protect him from danger.</p> + +<p>"No, no, there is not going to be any +accident, my little girl," answered the old +gentleman with a kind smile. "Don't be +afraid, we'll go up again in a minute; but I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +must say the small cousin from India doesn't +look half so much frightened as you do," +and he patted her on the back. "There, +now, off we go, you see, and we'll be at the +top in a minute."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so glad we are out of that horrid +thing! and, Bunny, I am sure we should +never have gone into it," cried Mervyn, as +they at last stepped out of the lift and ran +quickly along the cliff towards the entrance +to the Spa grounds. "Just think, there +might have been an accident and we might +have been killed! Oh, it would have been +so dreadful if such a thing had happened."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it would," answered Bunny, "and +Sophie will be angry, for we have been away +such a long time. And oh, Mervyn, now I +remember, mama told me that I should never +leave my nurse when I was out with her, +and I quite forgot, and there, I have been +disobedient again! I am so sorry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bunny, Bunny! why don't you try +and remember?" cried Mervyn reproachfully, +"and we promised aunt to be so good just +before we came out," and tears of sorrow +stood in the little boy's eyes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Never mind, Mervyn, dear," said Bunny +kissing him, "it was my fault. Don't cry—you +were not naughty at all. It was all +because I forgot again. Oh, dear, I am afraid +Miss Kerr will be angry with me. But come +along quick, there is Sophie. See, she is +looking about everywhere for us."</p> + +<p>The two children trotted along at a brisk +pace down the steep winding path that led +through the pretty ornamental grounds with +which the cliff, overhanging the Spa, was tastefully +laid out. The trees were high and shady, +so the little creatures were not visible from +below as they ran quickly on their way. But +soon they came to a part where there was +not even a bush to hide them from view, +and as Sophie walked up and down in despair, +her eyes wandering about wildly in +every direction, she suddenly caught sight of +Bunny's white hat and blue sash, and with a +shriek of rage, she bounded up the path, and +taking hold of them by the shoulders shook +them angrily as she cried in a hoarse voice:</p> + +<p>"Ah, you wicked bad ones, I thought you +were lost! I thought the kidnappers had +taken you away for ever."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>"Oh, we are too big for that!" cried Bunny, +"and you need not be in such a rage, Sophie, +we only went up in the lift, as Mervyn +wanted to see what it was like;" and she +walked past the maid with a scornful toss of +her little head.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry, Sophie, indeed I am," +said Mervyn gently; "I did not know we +had so far to go. I am sorry you thought +we were lost."</p> + +<p>"Ah! much I care whether you are sorry +or not," cried the angry maid. "It will be +like Mademoiselle Bunny's sorrow—it will +last one minute—and then off to some more +naughty things," and with a push and a slap +Sophie drove the two children on before her, +over the bridge and away home to Holly +Lodge.</p> + +<p>"And now," she cried as they reached the +hall door, "I will march you both up to Miss +Kerr, and see what she will do with you. +Some punishment should be given to you, +and I don't know what to do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well!" said Bunny, "we'll go +and tell Miss Kerr ourselves. You need not +come with us, we don't want you at all. Come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +along, Mervyn;" and taking the little boy by +the hand, she dragged him up the stairs after +her.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap6_div.jpg" title="chap6_div" height="50" width="152" alt="chap6_div" /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_7.jpg" title="chap_7" height="102" width="400" alt="chap_7" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_vii" id="chapter_vii"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>IN MISS KERR'S ROOM.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap7_w.jpg" title="W" height="200" width="133" alt="W" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">hen</span> the two children reached +Miss Kerr's bed-room, they found +the door shut, and feeling quite +certain that she was there, they +knocked gently, and then stood +very still upon the mat, expecting every +moment to hear her voice calling to them to +go in.</p> + +<p>"Dear Miss Kerr," said Bunny at last, as, +growing impatient at the delay, she put her +little mouth to the key-hole and tried very +hard to make herself heard within the room, +"Mervyn and I want to tell you something, +so please, please, open the door and let us +in."</p> + +<p>But to her surprise she received no answer, +and becoming more and more cross and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +impatient, she rattled the handle as noisily +as possible in order to attract Miss Kerr's +attention.</p> + +<p>"I can't make out why she doesn't speak +to us," said Mervyn in a whisper. "I think +she must be asleep."</p> + +<p>"Asleep!" exclaimed Bunny indignantly. +"She isn't a baby, and she isn't ill, so why +should she be asleep at this time of the +day?"</p> + +<p>"Well, in India people sleep in the day +when they're not a bit ill, just because it's +hot—so why shouldn't they here?"</p> + +<p>"What a lot of sillies they must be in +India then!" cried Bunny contemptuously. +"Why, I have not been asleep in the day for +years—not since I was quite small," and she +rattled away more noisily than ever at the +door-handle.</p> + +<p>"Miss Kerr is not there, children," said a +housemaid who passed along the passage at +that moment, "she has been in the drawing-room +all the morning."</p> + +<p>"Has she?" said Bunny, "oh, then, I tell +you what, Mervyn, we'll just go in and wait +for her. She will be sure to come up in a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +minutes to wash her hands before dinner, +and then we'll tell her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but there is Sophie calling to us to +get ready ourselves. She will be awfully +angry if we don't go," said Mervyn. "Listen +how she is screaming."</p> + +<p>"Never mind her, the nasty, cross old thing!" +cried Bunny, opening the bed-room door. +"Come in, Mervyn, come in! There is Sophie—do +be quick, or she will catch us and drag +us off with her—and then she'll tell Miss +Kerr before we do. Come in, come in," and +once more she hurried her cousin along with +her, against his own will and inclination.</p> + +<p>"But, Bunny, I do think we ought to go to +Sophie, I do indeed," said Mervyn; "listen, +she is asking the housemaid if she has seen +us anywhere. And oh, she is coming here to +look for us—she will be awfully cross! Do +let us go into the nursery quietly and take +off our things and get ready for dinner."</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a silly, Mervyn! That +would spoil all the fun. But I know what +I'll do—I'll lock the door, and then Sophie +will not be able to get us. I can easily open +it for Miss Kerr when she comes up," cried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +Bunny; and before Mervyn could say a word +to prevent her, the little girl turned the key +in the lock, and, clapping her hands with delight, +danced up and down the room singing +at the top of her voice:</p> + +<div class="block2" style="width: 400px;"> +<p>"What a good plan! What a good plan!<br /> +And the dinner is in the frying pan!"</p> +</div> + +<p>"Indeed, then I wish it was here," grumbled +Mervyn, "I'm awfully hungry, and it +would be much better to go down to dinner +now, and tell Miss Kerr afterwards, or at +dinner-time, Bunny, indeed it would."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and let Sophie hear her scolding us," +cried the little girl. "I am hungry too, I can +tell you, Mervyn; but Miss Kerr won't be +long, I am sure. Hasn't she got a pretty +room? and doesn't the sea and the bridge +look nice from the window?"</p> + +<p>"Well enough," answered Mervyn crossly, +as he rolled about in an arm-chair that stood +away in the furthest corner. "But oh, it is +silly to be sticking up here when the dinner +is ready down-stairs—oh, I smell it, and it +does smell nice! and I am so hungry, and it's +very stupid of you to keep me shut up here."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I thought you were sorry and +wanted to tell Miss Kerr so," said Bunny +complacently, as she shook out her frock and +admired herself in the long glass. "It's very +greedy to talk so much about your dinner."</p> + +<p>"Is it?" grumbled Mervyn. "Well, I +don't care! I'm sure you're just as bad twisting +about and looking at yourself in the +glass, for that's being vain, and I'd rather be +greedy than vain, so I would, Bunny."</p> + +<p>"Would you? Oh, that's because you're +a boy. Boys are greedy, but it's vulgar to be +greedy—Sophie says it is, but it's different +to be vain, I—"</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle Bunny, come out this minute. +Ah, what a little naughty one you +are! and that cousin of yours he is a wicked +bad boy—he leads you into the mischiefs +of all kinds. Come out, I say, the dinner is +ready and Miss Kerr is waiting for you;" and +Sophie rattled the handle and hammered at +the door till the whole passage was filled +with the noise and the other servants came +running from all parts of the house to see +what could be the matter.</p> + +<p>"What is wrong, Sophie?" asked Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +Kerr, as she too hurried upstairs wondering +what was going on in the corridor. "Why +are you making such a dreadful noise?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! ma foi! Noise, Miss Kerr! What can +I do but make a noise, when those two children +have locked themselves into your room, +and will not come out for their dinner. Is +it then a wonder that I make a noise?" and +she began once more to bang the door as if +she would like to break it in.</p> + +<p>"That was Miss Kerr's voice, Bunny," +whispered Mervyn; "do open the door and +let us go out to her now."</p> + +<p>"Is it really? I only heard Sophie. Miss +Kerr," she called, "are you there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Bunny, I am here. Come out, child, +come to your dinner. You must be starving, +both of you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are," answered Bunny, "and we +will go out if you will send Sophie away. +Mervyn and I want to tell you something."</p> + +<p>"Ah! what a naughty child!" cried Sophie. +"Meess Kerr, they have both been so very +difficult, so wicked! They have run away, +they have gone in the lift, they have just +escaped being seized by kidnappers and—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>"That's a great story, Sophie," cried +Bunny through the door, "for there was +not a single kidnapper near us; was there, +Mervyn?"</p> + +<p>"No, there wasn't," said Mervyn, "not one, +Sophie, there wasn't really."</p> + +<p>"Now!" shouted Bunny triumphantly, +"you see you are quite wrong, Sophie."</p> + +<p>"Open the door, Bunny, this minute," said +Miss Kerr decidedly, "I am surprised that +you should behave in such a naughty way, +just when I thought you were going to be a +good girl."</p> + +<p>"I'll open it now, indeed I will," cried +Bunny, "and please, please don't be angry +with us. We are so sorry we ran away from +Sophie, indeed we are, and that is the reason +we came up here, just to tell you so."</p> + +<p>All the time the child was talking she was +also working away at the key, trying her very +best to open the door. But no matter how +she turned or pulled it, round it would not +go, and at last, hot and tired with so many +violent efforts, she begged Mervyn to try if +he could make it turn.</p> + +<p>"No, Bunny, I can't," said the boy sadly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +after working patiently at the key for some +time. "It's no use, I can't do it at all."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, oh dear!" cried Bunny in a +miserable voice, "what shall we do? Miss +Kerr, dear, we can't open the door, it's locked +quite fast."</p> + +<p>"Take the key out of the lock and push +it under the door, and I will try and open it +from this side," said Miss Kerr; "it was +really very naughty of you to lock yourselves +up in such a way. But be quick and give +me the key."</p> + +<p>After a good deal of pulling and tugging, +Bunny at last managed to get the key out of +the lock, and kneeling on the floor she tried +with all the strength of her tiny hands to +push it out under the door.</p> + +<p>But the key was too large or the door +fitted too closely, and the little girl gave a +cry of alarm as she found that it was quite +impossible to get it out into the passage.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mervyn, dear, it won't go out! Oh! +Miss Kerr, what shall we do?" she cried, +bursting into tears; "if we can't open the +door what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"And I am so hungry," said Mervyn in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +doleful tone. "How nasty it will be to be +stuck in here for ever! Oh, pray open the +door! Oh! pray open the door, Miss Kerr."</p> + +<p>"Throw the key out of the window, +Bunny," said Miss Kerr, "and I will go +round and pick it up, and let you out in a +minute."</p> + +<p>"Oh! the window is shut. The window +is shut," cried the two children in despair, +"and we cannot reach to open it. What shall +we do? What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Miss Kerr, +"who can have shut the window?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say I did, miss," said the +housemaid. "The wind was so strong upon the +window that was open, that I shut it, intending +to open the middle one, but I forgot all about +it when I was leaving the room."</p> + +<p>"It is extremely awkward, and has helped +to give the poor children a great fright," said +Miss Kerr. "Go and bring me the keys of all +the doors, Sarah, and I will try if any of them +will fit the lock. Don't be uneasy, Bunny; +don't cry, little Mervyn. We will get you +out some way or other, you may be quite +sure, so don't be afraid. I have sent for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +some keys to try if they will open the door, +so don't fret. Ah! here they are."</p> + +<p>One after the other the keys were taken +and tried, but not one was of the slightest +use. One was too large, and another too +small, and Miss Kerr felt really grieved for +the poor little prisoners, whose sobs were +distinctly heard through the door.</p> + +<p>"What can I do?" she said. "It is really +very hard on them to be shut in there for +such a long, long time! And they are so +hungry too."</p> + +<p>"Send for a man to pick the lock, miss," +said Sarah. "Ashton will get some one from +one of the shops."</p> + +<p>"But that will take such a time!" cried +Miss Kerr; "it is a long way to the town, and +the children want their dinner so badly. No, +I must think of some quicker plan than that. +Ah, now I know one!" she exclaimed with a +sudden smile; "it is a pity, but it can't be +helped! Bunny, dear, will you take the +poker, break a pane of glass with it, and +throw the key out upon the grass. Be very +careful not to cut your fingers."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it!" cried Mervyn, jumping up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +out of the chair, where he had been rolling +about disconsolately. "I'd just like to break +a window, and I'm taller than you, Bunny; +do let me, like a good girl."</p> + +<p>"No, no; Miss Kerr told me to do it," +cried Bunny, "and I should like to break a +pane too;" and seizing the poker she sent it +crash through the glass.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what fun! What a rare smash!" exclaimed +Mervyn in delight. "I will throw +the key out;" and he darted across the room, +picked up the key, and flung it with all his +strength at the window.</p> + +<p>But he did not aim straight, and instead +of flying into the garden the key merely +shattered the glass a little more, and fell back +again on to the floor.</p> + +<p>"You stupid boy! What a bad shot!" +cried Bunny, and taking it up between her +finger and thumb she stepped on a chair, and +dropped it down cleverly upon the grass, just +at Miss Kerr's feet.</p> + +<p>"That is right," said the governess with a +smile, as she stooped to pick up the key; +"and now don't you think it would be a good +punishment for all your naughtiness to keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +you both locked up there for the rest of the +afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no, pray do not do that, Miss +Kerr, we are so sorry and so hungry!" and +the two little faces, as they were pressed +against the window, looked so utterly miserable +and woebegone, that the kind-hearted +governess could not bear to carry out her +threat of punishment, but hurried away as +fast as possible to let the poor children out.</p> + +<p>When the door was at last opened and +they were told to come forth, Mervyn hung +back and did not dare to raise his eyes to +Miss Kerr's face. Bunny, on the contrary, +greeted her with a cry of joy, and springing +into her arms, kissed her heartily over and +over again.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad to get out! I'm so glad to +get out! Oh, I was afraid we should have to +stay in here all day by ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope this will be a lesson to you +never to shut yourself into a room again, +Bunny," said Miss Kerr severely. "It was +a very foolish thing to do, and I cannot +say that I am very sorry that you got a +little fright, for I really think you deserved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +to suffer something for your naughtiness. +But tell me, little man," she said to Mervyn, +"are you not glad to get out too? You don't +look so cheerful over it as Bunny does."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to get out. But I—I—wanted +to tell you," he said with much difficulty, +and clasping his little hands tightly +together. "I want—to tell you—that I am +very sorry I was disobedient and ran away +from Sophie."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear you say you are sorry, +dear," answered Miss Kerr. "I am sure you +mean it Mervyn, and that I may trust you +not to be disobedient again."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you may trust me, indeed you may," +the boy cried with a bright smile, "I will +really try to be good, and make Bunny remember +if I can."</p> + +<p>"Naughty little Bun! Why do you always +forget as you do?" said Miss Kerr +gently. "I did think you were going to be +good to-day, and just see how you have disappointed +me!"</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry," murmured Bunny, hanging +her head. "I did want to be good, and I +promise you I won't be naughty again. I'll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +always stay as close up to Sophie as ever I +can when we go out, I will indeed."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, I will not say any more +about the matter. Run away now, like good +children, and get ready for dinner. And +Bunny, dear, if Sophie is a little cross, be +gentle and polite with her, for you have tormented +and tried her temper very much, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will be ever so nice and kind to +her, dear, dear Miss Kerr," cried Bunny as +she gave the governess a bear-like hug and +another loving kiss. "I'll be awfully polite;" +and laughing merrily she jumped off her +perch on Miss Kerr's knee, and ran down the +passage to the nursery, waving her hat and +singing at the top of her voice.</p> + +<p>"Poor little giddy-pate!" said Miss Kerr +with a sigh. "I wonder how long she will +keep all those splendid promises. But why +don't you go off and get ready for dinner too, +Mervyn?" she asked in surprise as she saw the +little boy lingering at the door in a shy +uncertain manner. "Run along, dear, at +once."</p> + +<p>"Will you—give me a kiss?" said Mervyn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +with a deep blush. "I want to know that you +have really forgiven me."</p> + +<p>"Of course I have, dear boy," answered +Miss Kerr, and she put her arm round him +and kissed him affectionately. "I have +quite forgiven you, Mervyn, and I feel sure +that you are going to be a very good boy."</p> + +<p>"I am going to try very hard to be good," +replied the boy solemnly, "and as Bunny is +so small perhaps I may make her do the +same."</p> + +<p>"Very likely, Mervyn, dear, for good example +is sure to have a strong effect upon +little Bunny, who is more thoughtless than +really naughty. But run off now, dear, +and get your hands washed as quickly as +possible. The dinner will not be fit to eat +if we keep it waiting any longer."</p> + +<p>"That is true," said Mervyn with a bright +happy smile. "We have kept it waiting a +dreadfully long time, and we are all just +dying with hunger, I'm sure;" and he too +went off singing to the nursery.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap1_div.jpg" title="chap7_div" height="50" width="121" alt="chap7_div" /></div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_8.jpg" title="chap_8" height="101" width="400" alt="chap_8" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_viii" id="chapter_viii"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>BUNNY TRIES TO SHOW OFF.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap8_f.jpg" title="F" height="200" width="100" alt="F" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">or</span> some time after this there was +a marked improvement in little +Bunny's behaviour, and everyone +in the house was delighted with +the change, and rejoiced over it in +a very open manner.</p> + +<p>"It is perfectly wonderful!" said Mrs. +Dashwood; "our little troublesome is becoming +quite a well-behaved young person. +I feel very grateful to you, Miss Kerr, for +I believe it is all owing to your tender care +and kind good-nature that the child is improving +so much."</p> + +<p>"I don't think I have so much to do with +the change as little Mervyn," answered Miss +Kerr with a smile. "I have lectured poor +Bunny very often, it is true, but I think a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +good obedient little friend does a child more +real good than all the scoldings and lectures +in the world."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I daresay it is an excellent thing," +replied Mrs. Dashwood; "but still I think +your lectures and sermons have improved +my poor darling a great deal. She was very +ignorant when you came to look after her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she was," said Miss Kerr; "she did +not know much, poor child, and what was +worse, did not care to learn anything. But +lately she has begun to get on very nicely. +And there, again, you see it is Mervyn who +has done her good, for her whole ambition +is to do everything better than he does it."</p> + +<p>"The little rogue!" exclaimed Mrs. Dashwood +laughing. "Well, it is a good thing +to have found a way to make her work. +Where is she now, I wonder?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dashwood took her off with him to +the stables. Mervyn went too, as it seems +there is a pleasant surprise awaiting them +there. They both went off laden with bread +for Frisk."</p> + +<p>"I think I can guess what the surprise is," +said Mrs. Dashwood with a smile; "I—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>"Oh, mama, mama! we are glad! we are +glad!" cried Bunny bursting suddenly into +the room, followed by Mervyn with a radiant +look of happiness on his little white face. +"What do you think? Guess what has +happened. Just guess what papa has given +Mervyn."</p> + +<p>"Dear aunt, it was so kind of uncle to buy +me such a—"</p> + +<p>"Let her guess—let her guess, Mervyn. +Don't tell her what he bought you. Miss +Kerr, what did papa buy for him? Something +living, something with a tail, something +with a nose, a dear velvety nose and +a soft silky coat," cried Bunny, as she danced +up and down the drawing-room in high +glee.</p> + +<p>"A kitten," said Miss Kerr gravely.</p> + +<p>"A kitten! oh, the idea!" exclaimed +Bunny, "as if people bought kittens."</p> + +<p>"Something far nicer!" said Mervyn in a +voice full of pleasure. "I'll tell her, Bunny, +something to ride—"</p> + +<p>"No, no, don't tell, don't tell!" cried the +little girl, laying her hand quickly over his +mouth. "Mama, guess, guess."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>"A pony, Bun, a little brown pony," said +Mrs. Dashwood, smiling brightly upon the +eager excited children.</p> + +<p>"You dear clever mamey, that's just what +it is," exclaimed Bunny, giving her mother +an affectionate hug. "And Mervyn's so +pleased, and I am so glad, and oh, it will +be so nice going out to ride together!" and +jumping up sideways on the arm of the sofa +the little girl began to work herself about as +if she were really on Frisk's back and trotting +along a country road.</p> + +<p>"My dear Bunny, please don't," cried Mrs. +Dashwood, as she felt the sofa upon which +she was lying, shaken up and down by the +child's vigorous antics. "Please don't, dear, +you hurt me very much."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so sorry!" cried Bunny bounding +quickly down from her perch, and holding +her face up for a pardoning kiss. "But +won't it be nice, mama? Frisk is so glad to +have a friend in the stable with him, and it +will be fun for me to have Mervyn to ride +with."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it will be very nice, dear. But, +Bunny, you talk so much that Mervyn never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +gets saying a word. Tell me, my dear, do +you really like your pony?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, aunt, I am delighted with him, +he is so pretty. It was very good of uncle +to buy him for me."</p> + +<p>"And you will not be afraid to ride him, I +hope," she said with a smile.</p> + +<p>"No, I think not, at least not if we go +along quietly. But Bunny says she will +make Frisk go awfully fast, and then my +pony will run after him, and that she is +sure I shall be frightened and hold on by the +mane and—"</p> + +<p>"Bunny, Bunny, you must not say such +naughty things," cried Mrs. Dashwood shaking +her finger at the mischievous child. +"But don't mind her, Mervyn. She does +not ride at all so splendidly herself. The +groom or her papa always holds Frisk by a +leading rein, so it would be quite impossible +for her to go on as fast as she likes; so do not +mind her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't feel a bit afraid if some one +holds my pony by a rein," said Mervyn +bravely; "not one bit; I think it will be lovely +riding along together."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>"That is right," said Mrs. Dashwood. "I +am sure you will be a clever horseman, for +your papa was when he was a boy."</p> + +<p>"And so he is now, aunt. He has a beautiful +horse, and he looks splendid on it when +he goes off to ride," cried Mervyn, smiling +brightly at the recollection; "I used to think +he looked grander than any of the other +officers."</p> + +<p>"Poor little man," said his aunt gently, as +she smoothed back the hair from his brow. +"You are very fond of your papa, Mervyn, +and do you know, I think you will be like +him when you grow big and strong."</p> + +<p>"I want to be like him in every way," said +Mervyn, "and I mean to be an officer when +I grow up."</p> + +<p>"And go away to that nasty, hot India," +cried Bunny; "oh, I'd be so lonely if you +went away again—please don't, Mervyn, +please don't."</p> + +<p>"What is Mervyn not to do, my little +woman?" asked Mr. Dashwood, who entered +the room at this moment.</p> + +<p>"He's not to go back to India again, +because I should be so lonely without him,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +cried Bunny catching hold of her papa's hand +and laying her little cheek against it; "you +won't let him go, papa, will you, dear?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, I couldn't think of such a +thing. But I am sure he won't want to go +when he hears that his papa is coming home +for Christmas; eh, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"That is good news, uncle," cried Mervyn +joyfully; "I never thought he would come so +soon. Not much fear of my wanting to go to +India when he comes home."</p> + +<p>"So I thought," said Mr. Dashwood. "And +now, children, when are we to have our first +ride?"</p> + +<p>"Now, now; to-day, to-day," cried Bunny; +"dear papa, let us go off at once!"</p> + +<p>"Very well, my dear. I thought you +would like to go soon, so I told John to get +the ponies and horses ready in half an hour. +You had better run and get on your habit—that +is, if Miss Kerr will let you both off +with your afternoon lessons. What do you +think, Miss Kerr, do they deserve a ride?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think they do, for they have both +been very good," answered the governess with +a smile; "besides, I really don't think they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +look studiously inclined—they are very much +excited."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't learn a lesson if I tried ever +so," cried Bunny, "I really couldn't, so I am +glad you are going to let us off. Good-bye, +Miss Kerr; good-bye, mama I sha'n't be +long, papa, dear;" and away she flew in +breathless haste to the nursery.</p> + +<p>Sophie had received a message informing +her that her young lady was going out for a +ride, and when Bunny went up to be dressed +she found her pretty brown habit and neat +felt hat laid all ready for her on the bed.</p> + +<p>"That is a dear good Sophie," she cried, +and she was in such good humour that she +allowed the maid to brush her hair and put +on her habit without uttering a single cross +word or complaint.</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much, that will do +nicely," she said politely, as Sophie put the +last finishing touch to her curls; then taking +her little whip with the pretty silver top +from the maid's hand, she gathered up her +skirts and ran quickly down to the hall-door.</p> + +<p>"What a pleasure it is to dress her when +she is so good and polite as that!" said Sophie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +to herself as she watched the little figure +running away from her down the passage. +"What a pity it is that children are so often +naughty and troublesome!"</p> + +<p>When Bunny arrived in the hall she found +her papa and Mervyn quite ready to start for +their ride.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how nice Brownie looks!" cried the +little girl in delight, as her cousin was +lifted on to his new pony; "but I don't think +he is as handsome as you, old Frisk. Is he, +papa?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I am sure, dear," answered +her papa, laughing; "but I suppose you like +Frisk best because he is your own."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose I do," said Bunny, and +placing her little foot on her papa's hand she +sprang nimbly to her saddle. "Good-bye, +Miss Kerr, good-bye."</p> + +<p>Mr. Dashwood mounted his horse, the +groom jumped on his, and the whole party +rode gaily up the avenue and out of the gate.</p> + +<p>"I declare Mervyn sits very well, papa," +said Bunny in a patronizing manner, as she +looked back at her cousin, who was following +them with the servant.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>"Yes, of course he sits well; why shouldn't +he?" asked Mr. Dashwood; "he wants a few +lessons and then he will ride very well, I am +sure."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I daresay," said Bunny; "but he +never rode before, you know, except just little +short rides on Frisk, and he'd be awfully +afraid to go without the leading rein, I +know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and quite right too," said her father; +"it's only children who ride very well who +should be allowed to go without a leading +rein, and especially on a country road. +Supposing the pony took it into his head to +bolt—what do you think would happen +then?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he could be pulled up quite tight by +his rein. I wouldn't be a bit afraid to ride +all by myself."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you, indeed, Miss Vanity. Well, +I would rather not trust you," said Mr. Dashwood +laughing; "I think it is very likely you +would find Master Frisk rather too much for +you without a leading rein, my dear child."</p> + +<p>"No, I shouldn't," answered Bunny, bending +over her pony and patting his neck; "Frisk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +and I are such friends he would be sure to do +what I told him. Wouldn't you, Friskie?"</p> + +<p>"Don't trust him or your own power too +much, Miss Bunny," replied her father with +a smile. "But who is that coming down the +road towards us? I think I ought to know +him."</p> + +<p>"Why, papa, it's Mr. Davis, that nice old +gentleman who gave me the box of sweets; +don't you remember? I'm sure it is."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so it is," said Mr. Dashwood; "what +sharp eyes you have, little woman! You and +Mervyn had better ride on with John, as I +want to say a word to Mr. Davis."</p> + +<p>"Very well, papa, but don't be long, pray," +said the little girl; "it's so much nicer talking +to you than to John."</p> + +<p>"No, I sha'n't be very long, dear. Good +morning, Mr. Davis," said Mr. Dashwood to +a tall fine-looking old gentleman who at this +moment rode up to them on a beautiful chestnut +horse; "I am very glad to see you. This +little girl of mine knew you a long way off."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Miss Bunny and I are great friends," +answered Mr. Davis with a smile, as he bent +forward to shake her warmly by the hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>"Those pretty eyes of yours are a deal sharper +than mine, my dear, for I had not the faintest +idea who it was that was coming along the +road. But I am glad I met you, Dashwood, +as I want to say a few words to you about—" +and he lowered his voice to a whisper.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mr. Dashwood; "I'll +send these little people on with the groom, +and ride down the road a short way with you. +John," he called to the servant, "take Miss +Bunny's rein and go on up the hill with the +children, turn in at Lady Edith's Drive, and +I will overtake you in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the groom, touching his +hat respectfully, and riding forward he took +the rein from his master's hand.</p> + +<p>"Ride quietly along and I will be back to +you very soon, Bunny," said Mr. Dashwood, +and then he turned his horse round and +walked it leisurely down the road again with +Mr. Davis.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a pretty place!" cried Mervyn, +as the riding party trotted along through a +gate and into a cool shady avenue, with tall +stately trees growing closely together on +every side.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>"This is Lady Edith's Drive," said Bunny; +"I think it is the prettiest place about Scarborough. +It is so cool and pleasant, and then +it is so quiet."</p> + +<p>"Why is it called Lady Edith's Drive?" +asked Mervyn.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Bunny. "Do +you, John?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no, Miss," said John; "I can't exactly +say as I do. I suppose some Lady Edith +used to drive here very often."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so, indeed," said Bunny, laughing +merrily at this explanation.</p> + +<p>"I don't think that tells us much, John," +said Mervyn; "anyone might know that."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, very likely, sir," replied the +groom; "but I never asks no questions. If +I'm told a place is called by a name, I never +asks why or wherefore, but just takes it as the +name that it's to be called by."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think you are very foolish then," +said Mervyn; "I like asking questions, and +it's a very good way to learn about things, I +can tell you."</p> + +<p>"I daresay it is, sir, for a young gentleman +like you, sir. But you see the people about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +me don't know no more nor I do, so what's the +use of asking them what's this an' what's that, +an' showin' them I don't know nothin' myself."</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that," said Mervyn, +"but I don't think it matters about showing +that you don't know. Miss Kerr says no one +should be ashamed to ask a question about a +thing they don't understand."</p> + +<p>"John, John," cried Bunny suddenly as +she pulled very hard at the leading rein in +order to attract the groom's attention, "I +want to ask you something. Stoop down +that I may whisper it into your ear."</p> + +<p>The man did as she requested; but when +he had heard what she wanted him to do he +shook his head in a very determined manner, +saying, "I couldn't on no account, Miss. +Your pa would be as angry as anything."</p> + +<p>"No, he wouldn't, John. I told him I +could manage Frisk myself, and he only +laughed. Do let me—just for a few minutes. +I'll go along quite quietly, you'll see I will. +I want to show Mervyn that I can ride +better than he does, and that I am not afraid +to go without a leading rein."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's very quiet here, so I suppose it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +could not be much harm," said the man, +yielding a little at her pleading voice; "I +really don't think it could be any harm;" and +he turned in his saddle and looked carefully +up and down the drive.</p> + +<p>"Harm!" exclaimed Bunny, "of course it +could do no harm. Oh! pray take off the +rein, John," and she looked up into his face +in a most imploring manner.</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a funny little lady, to be +sure," he answered with a good-natured +laugh, and, bending forward, he unfastened +the leading rein and put it into his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, John," said the child, sitting +up proudly on her pony. "It feels ever so +much nicer without it; it's so silly to be +always led along by a rein like a baby. +Mervyn, I am riding all by myself. Wouldn't +you like to ride without a leading rein?" she +shouted across at her cousin, who was trotting +along quietly at the other side of the +groom; "it's twice as nice to feel that you +can go just as you like."</p> + +<p>"I feel just as nice as I am, Bunny, thank +you," said Mervyn; "I would rather have +the rein, thank you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>"I can't hear what you say, so I think I'll +go round beside you, Mervyn," she cried +gaily; and, raising her whip, she brought it +down heavily upon poor Frisk's back, and +tried to make him go round beside Brownie. +But Frisk was not accustomed to such treatment, +and tossed his head and whisked up +his tail, but absolutely refused to go to the +other side of John's horse, no matter what +she did to him.</p> + +<p>"You naughty pony," she cried, "you +must do what I tell you," and she tugged +violently at his mouth, and gave him another +sharp blow with her whip. This was more +than the pony could bear; and before his +little mistress knew where she was, he pricked +up his ears, and with an angry toss of his +head galloped away down the road as fast as +he could.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Miss Bunny, for goodness sake +stop," shouted the groom; "you must not go +so fast; come back here at once."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"> +<a name="illus114" id="illus114"></a> +<img src="images/illus114.jpg" title="illus114" height="605" width="400" alt="ilus114" /></div> + +<h5 class="caption" style="padding-bottom: 2em;">FRANCIS SAVES BUNNY.</h5> + +<p>"I can't stop—I can't!" shrieked the little +girl in a voice of terror. "Oh! he's running +away—he's running away;" and, completely +overcome with fright, poor Bunny dropped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +her reins, and, catching hold of the pony's +mane, held on to him with all her strength.</p> + +<p>"What a fool I was to let her go!" cried +the groom; "what on earth will my master +say to me? Goodness, the silly child has +let go her reins; she'll be off—she'll be off;" +and, spurring up his horse, he rode after +the runaway, hoping to overtake him and +put a stop to his mad race.</p> + +<p>But the noise of the horses as they clattered +down the road after him seemed only to +excite Master Frisk, and on he went faster +than ever.</p> + +<p>As the pony reached the end of the drive, +and poor little Bunny had become so weak +and faint from terror that she was in great +danger of being thrown to the ground, a +young lad of about sixteen jumped up from +the grass where he had been seated, and, +dashing forward, seized Frisk by the head +and brought him to a sudden stand-still.</p> + +<p>"Poor little girl," said the boy kindly, as +he lifted Bunny from her saddle and laid her +gently on the grass. "What a fright you +have had! How did this beggar come to +run away? He looks quiet enough."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>"I whipped him," answered Bunny in a +shaky voice; "and oh! I thought I was going +to fall," and she put her hand to her head as +if she still felt giddy.</p> + +<p>"You were certainly very nearly off," said +the boy; "but what a fool that groom of +yours was to let a kid like you ride without +a leading rein; he shouldn't have done such +a thing."</p> + +<p>"Oh! but I begged him so hard that he +let me go," said Bunny; "he didn't want to +let me, and—"</p> + +<p>"Miss Bunny, I'm ashamed of you," cried +John, riding up beside her. "You promised +you'd ride quite quiet beside me, and you +broke your word. I'm very thankful to you, +sir, I'm sure," he continued, turning to the +young stranger. "In another minute this +little lady might have been thrown on her +head and been killed on the spot."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! oh, dear! it wasn't my fault," +cried Bunny, bursting into tears; "I only +mean't to go round beside Mervyn, and Frisk +ran away and—"</p> + +<p>"Don't cry, dear," said the strange lad +kindly; "you must not say another word to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +her, my man," he continued, turning to the +groom; "she is rather shaken with her fright, +and it's best to leave her alone. Take hold +of this pony and I will go and get your +young lady some fresh water; that will do +her good."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," said John, pulling the +leading rein once more from his pocket, and +fastening it on to Frisk's bridle with an +angry jerk. "It's not my place to scold, +Miss Bunny, but a young lady should keep +her word, and not get a servant into trouble."</p> + +<p>"But I didn't mean to break my word, +John, indeed I didn't," sobbed Bunny. "Oh! +why did papa leave us? oh, dear! oh, dear!"</p> + +<p>"Drink this, you poor little mite," said her +new friend as he held a flask full of fresh +water to her lips. "It will do you ever so +much good. I will bathe your face for you, +and then you will see how comfortable you +will feel, but you must not cry any more."</p> + +<p>"Thank you so much," said Bunny, drinking +off the water; "it is very cool and nice."</p> + +<p>"Yes," the boy answered, "it is very refreshing, +but this will do you more good, +I am sure;" and, removing her hat, he took a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +neatly-folded, perfectly clean handkerchief +from his pocket, shook it out, and, dipping +it into the water, bathed the child's face as +tenderly as a girl might have done.</p> + +<p>"You are very kind," said Bunny, as she +raised her big blue eyes to his face; "you are +a nice good boy," and she raised her face to +give him a kiss.</p> + +<p>"That's right," he said smiling; "you are +beginning to look more cheerful," and, stooping, +he kissed her gently on the forehead.</p> + +<p>At this moment the sound of horses' feet +was heard coming along the road, and Mr. +Dashwood soon appeared, riding quickly +towards them.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" he cried in alarm, +as, drawing up sharply, he sprang from his +horse and rushed to his little girl's side.</p> + +<p>"Oh! papa, papa!" cried the child, running +into her father's arms, "your poor Bunny +was nearly killed, only this nice boy stopped +Frisk and took me off his back."</p> + +<p>"My poor darling!" cried Mr. Dashwood, +lifting her gently from the ground, and +smoothing back her ruffled hair, "I am very +thankful to God that you are not hurt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +Thank you, too, my lad, for your kind and +ready assistance," he said to the young +stranger, grasping him warmly by the hand, +"and now tell me, sir," he cried with a stern +look, as he turned to the groom, "how it is +that the child whom I left in your care came +to be in such danger."</p> + +<p>"If you please, sir, Miss Bunny asked—" +began John very nervously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, papa, I—it was all my fault," interrupted +the little girl; "don't scold John. I +wanted to show Mervyn that I could ride +better than he does, and as I could not do so +properly with John holding me by the rein, +I begged him to let me go, and I promised +to ride quietly; but I whipped Frisk, and he +ran off so fast that I got frightened, and—"</p> + +<p>"It was very wrong of you, John, to allow +the child to ride without a rein, and I am +really angry and vexed that you should not +have taken more care of her when she was +left in your charge."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, sir, I am very sorry, and it shall +never happen again," said John.</p> + +<p>"I hope not," said Mr. Dashwood; "and +as for you, Bunny, I am very much surprised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +that you should have been so naughty. +You know I told you you could not manage +Frisk without a leading rein."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know you did, dear papa," said +Bunny, as she rubbed her little face up and +down against her father's cheek, "but don't +scold us any more. We are all very sorry, +aren't we, John?"</p> + +<p>"Very, Miss," answered the groom; "I'd +rather have died than let any harm come to +you, an' I hope master will forgive me for +lettin' you have your own way about the +rein."</p> + +<p>"I forgive you this time, John," said Mr. +Dashwood; "but remember for the future you +are to keep Miss Bunny well to your side +when you take her out to ride on her pony."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, surely I will," answered the +man earnestly; "I will never do what Miss +Bunny asks me to do again, never while I +live."</p> + +<p>"And now, my dear fellow," said Mr. +Dashwood, turning to the young stranger +and shaking him once more by the hand, "I +cannot tell you how grateful I feel to you. +May I be permitted to ask your name?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>"My name is Francis Collins; but indeed +I did not do much," the boy answered +modestly.</p> + +<p>"You have done me a very great service, +Master Francis, and one that I can never repay +you," said Mr. Dashwood earnestly. "Do +you live anywhere about here?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I live in London," replied the +lad; "my father is in India with his regiment, +and I am staying up here for a time with my +aunt."</p> + +<p>"Is your father a captain? and is he in +India now?" asked Mervyn shyly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, little man," answered young Collins +with a smile, "he is a captain in the 45th, and +is now stationed at Jublepoore."</p> + +<p>"Why, Captain Collins is papa's great +friend, and of course he was my friend too; +and Mrs. Collins was so good and kind to me. +Oh, I did love her so much!" cried Mervyn, +looking up into the lad's face. "Are you the +Frank she used to talk to me about?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am the Frank, her only child," +said the boy sadly; "poor mother! it's a +whole year and a half since I saw her last;" +and tears came into his eyes as he spoke.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>"I have often heard my brother-in-law +speak of your father, my dear boy, and I am +very glad to have made your acquaintance," +said Mr. Dashwood as he seated his little +daughter upon her pony. "Where are you +staying?"</p> + +<p>"I am living with my aunt at a quiet hotel +on the West Cliff."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to hear it," said Mr. Dashwood, +"for you will be able to come over and +see us. Our name is Dashwood, and we are +staying at Holly Lodge, a house standing in +its own grounds and facing the sea, yonder +on the South Cliff. Anyone will point it out +to you; so be sure and pay us a visit some +day soon."</p> + +<p>"Yes, thank you, I certainly will," the boy +replied with a bright smile; "I must have a +talk with this little chap, Mr. Dashwood, and +find out all I can about my father and mother +from him. By the by I suppose you are the +Mervyn Hastings she told me she missed so +much."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am Mervyn Hastings; and oh, did +she miss me?" cried the little fellow eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Most dreadfully! And I don't wonder,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +for you seem to be a capital little fellow," +said Frank Collins, patting Mervyn on the +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Come over and lunch at the children's +dinner to-morrow at two o'clock, and then +you and Mervyn can have a long talk together," +said Mr. Dashwood as he sprang to +his horse. "It is rather late now, so these +youngsters must get home as quickly as they +can. Remember we shall all be delighted to +see you, if you can spare time for visiting."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do come, do come," said Mervyn, +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Mama will be so glad to see you," cried +Bunny, "so do come, please."</p> + +<p>"Thank you all very much," answered the +lad brightly; "I will be sure to be at Holly +Lodge by two o'clock. Good-bye, Mr. Dashwood; +good-bye, Miss Bunny; good-bye, little +Mervyn;" and Frank lifted his hat politely as +the riding party turned and rode away from +him down the drive towards Scarborough.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap8_div.jpg" title="chap8_div" height="15" width="140" alt="chap8_div" /></div> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_9.jpg" title="chap_9" height="99" width="400" alt="chap_9" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_ix" id="chapter_ix"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>MISS KERR PROMISES A PRIZE.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap9_t.jpg" title="T" height="200" width="100" alt="T" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">he</span> next morning was very wet, and +as it was quite impossible for the +children to go out, Miss Kerr +insisted on their going into the +library to learn their lessons.</p> + +<p>Bunny pouted and declared that her papa +did not wish them to sit still all day over +their books, and that it would be much nicer +to run about the house and play at "Hide +and seek."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it would be pleasanter for you, +Bunny," said Miss Kerr, "but you forget that +'Hide and seek' is a very noisy game, and +that your mama's head is aching so much +that she could not bear the noise you would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +be sure to make. Come now, be good children, +and try to learn your lessons as well as +you possibly can."</p> + +<p>"I hate lessons! and so does Mervyn," +cried the little girl in a cross voice. "Don't +you, Mervyn?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," answered the boy; "I will +go if you like, Miss Kerr, for I want to learn +how to write soon, that I may be able to send +papa a letter."</p> + +<p>"You are a good boy, Mervyn," said the +governess with a smile as she took him by +the hand, "and I promise you that I will soon +let you write a little letter to your papa. +Come, Bun, dear, you are not going to be +naughty, I am sure. Come along and we'll +have such a nice quiet morning over our +books;" and she held out her other hand to +the little girl.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I am good, will you read us a +story after we have said our lessons?" bargained +Miss Bunny; "I just love to hear you +read stories."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will read you a very nice story if +you are good, and I have a pretty box of +chocolate here that I will give to the child<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +who studies the hardest and keeps silence the +longest."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how nice! Oh, how jolly!" cried +Bunny, clapping her hands in delight. "I'll +learn my lessons awfully hard;" and away she +ran down the passage to the library, pulled +her spelling-book out of the drawer, and +perching herself on a chair at the table began +to shout out the words at the top of her +voice.</p> + +<p>"My dear Bunny, how do you think Mervyn +can learn his lessons if you scream +yours out in that way?" said Miss Kerr laughing; +"repeat those words quietly to yourself +whilst I show your cousin what he is to +do."</p> + +<p>"I don't know very much, Miss Kerr," said +Mervyn shyly as he took the book from her +hand; "papa says I am a dreadful dunce, but +I only began to learn last year."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that, my dear boy. If you +give your attention to your book and feel +anxious to learn, you will soon get on. Spell +over these words for me and let me see what +you can do."</p> + +<p>Mervyn did as he was told, and with much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +difficulty he managed to spell down half a +column of very easy words.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can do better than that! I can do +better than that!" cried Bunny, wriggling +about on her chair; "why, I could spell +those words in a minute. Listen—h-o-u-s-e, +d-a-y, m-o-u-s-e."</p> + +<p>"Hush! Bunny, I cannot allow you to go +on like that," said Miss Kerr gravely; "you +have learned those words over and over again, +so of course you know them well. Now, +Mervyn, go and read them over by yourself +and I will hear you say them without the +book in a few minutes. Bunny, come and +say your lesson."</p> + +<p>The little girl slipped off her chair and +came slowly across the room to Miss Kerr.</p> + +<p>"Be quick, Bun, stir yourself," cried the +governess; "I want to hear how beautifully +you can spell words that you have never seen +before; come along."</p> + +<p>But Bunny still hung back with an obstinate +look on her little face, that showed +plainly how very unwilling she was to do as +she was told.</p> + +<p>"Come, dear child, be quick, you are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +wasting all my time;" and Miss Kerr held +out her hand for the spelling-book.</p> + +<p>Bunny handed it to her, and then dragging +one foot slowly after the other, she at last +stood by Miss Kerr's side.</p> + +<p>"Take your finger out of your mouth, +Bunny," said the governess, as she laid the +book before the child and pointed to the place. +"Now begin, B—"</p> + +<p>"If you please, Miss Kerr," said Ashton, +opening the door. "Mrs. Dashwood wants +to see you very particular, miss, in the +drawing-room. She said as she wouldn't +keep you long, but you was to go to her at +once."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I will go now, Ashton," said +Miss Kerr; "and now, children, I hope you +will be good while I am away. Bunny, you +can go over those words by yourself. See +here is the box of chocolate. I will put it in +the middle of the table so that you may see +what you have to work for;" and placing a +pretty cardboard box upon a pile of books +so that the children might see the gay picture +on the lid, she smiled kindly upon them both, +and hurried out of the room.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>For a few moments after they were left +alone the little people were very silent and +quiet; but soon Bunny raised her head, +yawned noisily, and pushing her book away +began to amuse herself by looking about the +room.</p> + +<p>"I shall get the prize," said Mervyn, "you +are not learning your lesson, you know."</p> + +<p>"No more are you," cried Bunny; "I'll +learn mine up in a minute when Miss Kerr +comes back, and you're as slow as an old snail +at yours;" and again she began to mimic his +voice and manner of spelling.</p> + +<p>"You're very rude," cried Mervyn, getting +red, "and I'll just tell Miss Kerr when she +comes back."</p> + +<p>"Tell-tale! tell-tale!" sang Bunny; "much +I care! If I know my lesson best I'll get +the chocolate and I won't give you one +bit."</p> + +<p>"You're a greedy thing! But you won't +get it. I know my lesson splendidly, and +you don't know yours at all, so I am sure to +get the prize, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"Ha, how grand you are, to be sure!" +screamed Bunny, and stretching out her hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +she tried to pull the chocolate box towards +her.</p> + +<p>"You sha'n't touch it! You sha'n't touch +it!" shouted Mervyn; "it isn't yours, so just +leave it alone."</p> + +<p>"It isn't yours either," cried Bunny with +flaming cheeks, and she fastened her little +fingers more firmly than ever round the box.</p> + +<p>"I am sure to get it, so I shall keep it +beside me till Miss Kerr comes back."</p> + +<p>"No, you sha'n't," answered Mervyn in an +angry voice, and jumping up on his chair +he sprawled over the table and tried to drag +the box from Bunny's hand.</p> + +<p>"You nasty boy, let go! I'll tell Miss +Kerr! I'll tell mama! You're a coward! +You're a horrid—"</p> + +<p>"Who's going to be tell-tale now?" shrieked +the boy. "Give it to me, I say, give it to me," +and he gave a vigorous pull at the box.</p> + +<p>But the cardboard of which the chocolate +box was composed was not strong enough to +stand such pulling, and before the naughty +children knew where they were it suddenly +gave way and came to pieces in their hands. +The beautiful prize was completely destroyed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +and its whole contents were strewn all over +the place.</p> + +<p>"Now, see what you have done!" cried +Bunny, bursting into tears; "you have broken +the box—oh dear, oh dear, you cross, nasty, +greedy boy, I—"</p> + +<p>"I didn't do it," said Mervyn, but his +voice was low and shaky, for all his anger +disappeared when he saw the pretty box +torn to pieces and the chocolate creams lying +scattered about all over the table and floor.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you did! If you hadn't pulled so +hard it would have been all right," said +Bunny tearfully. "Oh, what will Miss Kerr +say? I think I'll run away to the nursery +and hide. I shall be afraid to let her see +me—"</p> + +<p>"That would be cowardly," answered Mervyn; +"I'm very sorry I pulled the box, and +I'll stay here and tell her so;" and he went +down on his knees and began to gather up +the sweetmeats and put them into a sheet of +paper.</p> + +<p>"Don't eat any, Mervyn," said Bunny, +"they look awfully nice, but—"</p> + +<p>"Eat them!" exclaimed the boy indig<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>nantly, +"I should think not indeed! I am +not so mean as that; I wouldn't—"</p> + +<p>"Mean—is it mean?" cried Bunny, rubbing +her mouth; "oh, I didn't know, and I just +took one—but Miss Kerr won't mind."</p> + +<p>"Well, you are nasty! You tell me not +to eat them, and then you go and take some +yourself. Go away, I won't speak to you or +be friends with you any more; you're a +mean—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mervyn, Mervyn, I'm so sorry! I'm +so sorry!" cried Bunny, flinging herself on +her knees beside her cousin. "I didn't want +to take the chocolate cream, but it looked so +nice, and I just longed to take it and—"</p> + +<p>"Children! what are you doing?" cried +Miss Kerr in astonishment as her eyes fell +upon the two kneeling figures and she heard +Bunny's miserable tone of voice; "why are +you on the floor? Come back to the table +at once."</p> + +<p>"Bunny," whispered Mervyn, "we must +tell Miss Kerr now what we have done;" and +springing to his feet he caught the little girl +by the hand and dragged her over to the +other side of the room, where the governess<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +had seated herself, ready to begin lessons +again.</p> + +<p>"We have been very naughty," he began, +looking down at the floor; "we didn't learn +our lessons—and—we—broke—the box—and +spilt all the chocolates—but we are very +sorry, indeed we are," and he raised his blue +eyes full of tears to Miss Kerr's face.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are very sorry—and—I eat a +chocolate cream—but Mervyn didn't because +it was mean," cried Bunny, and then, overcome +with grief, she buried her face in her +pinafore and sobbed aloud.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you how much surprised +and shocked I feel at such conduct," said +Miss Kerr gravely. "I really thought I +could trust you for a few minutes alone. +Mervyn, I am very much grieved to think +that you could behave in such a naughty way. +Bunny is wild and giddy, but I thought you +were going to show her a good example, by +being good and gentle yourself."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I wanted to," said Mervyn, +"but she called me names and then I got +cross, and then—I—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I got cross too," cried Bunny,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +putting down her pinafore for a minute. "I +was angry and—"</p> + +<p>"And I am afraid you both forgot that +God was looking at you, and that he was +greatly displeased at you for giving way to +your wicked passions in such a manner. +How did you come to be so naughty? Mervyn, +what began it all?"</p> + +<p>The tears were rolling down the little boy's +cheeks, but he dried them with his handkerchief, +and choking back those that were still +ready to flow, he tried to tell the story of +the torn chocolate box as well as he could.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am glad you have told me all +about it," said Miss Kerr, gently, "and as +you both seem so sorry for your conduct, I +suppose I must forgive you. But remember, +dear children, that you must tell God that +you are sorry, and ask him to forgive you. +Pray to Him that he may help you to overcome +your tempers and become good, gentle +little children. I will not scold you any +more, and you have punished yourselves +by breaking the box and spilling the sweetmeats, +for now I cannot allow you to have +any of them."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>"Oh, I don't mind that!" cried Mervyn +quickly. "If you will forgive me for being +naughty, I don't want any sweets."</p> + +<p>"I do forgive you, Mervyn, but don't forget +what I told you. Say a prayer to-night +before you go to bed and ask God's forgiveness +and help."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will, I will," cried the boy, "and +I will try and be ever so good all day to make +up for being so naughty this morning."</p> + +<p>"And I'll be good too," said Bunny; "I +am sorry you won't give us any sweets, for +they look so nice, but still I—"</p> + +<p>"You won't ask for any! That is right, +dear. I know you like sweets, Bun, but I +must punish you a little, you know, so I can't +give you any to-day. Come, now, I forgive +you both, so let us go back to our lessons at +once; and I hope you will do your best to +show me that you are truly sorry, by working +very hard for the next two hours."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, we will, indeed," cried the +children together, and off they ran to get +their books.</p> + +<p>"That is right! That looks like real +work," said Miss Kerr, as she wrapped up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +the chocolate creams in paper, and locked +them away in a drawer. "Come, Bunny, +bring your book to me, dear."</p> + +<p>Bunny opened her spelling-book briskly, +Mervyn began to read his lesson attentively, +and perfect peace reigned once more.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap9_div.jpg" title="chap9_div" height="50" width="102" alt="chap9_div" /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_10.jpg" title="chap_10" height="100" width="400" alt="chap_10" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_x" id="chapter_x"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>ON OLIVER'S MOUNT.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap10_t.jpg" title="T" height="200" width="100" alt="T" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">he</span> lessons were over about half-past +one, and as they had been well +learned and quickly said, Miss +Kerr was really pleased with the +children, and rewarded them for +their industry and attention by reading a +pretty story, that interested and amused +them very much.</p> + +<p>This kept them pleasantly occupied until +nearly two o'clock, and then they ran off to +the nursery in high spirits, to get themselves +washed and dressed for their early dinner.</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry, Miss Kerr," said Bunny, +as she took her seat at the dinner-table, "I'm +really dreadfully sorry that nice boy we saw +yesterday has not come to have lunch with +us as he promised he would."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>"Yes, dear, so am I, for I should like very +much to see him," answered Miss Kerr, "but +I daresay the rain kept him from coming."</p> + +<p>"But it's not raining one drop now," said +Mervyn, "and I declare, there is the sun +coming out; I do wish he would come."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but it's wet under-foot, Mervyn," +remarked Bunny wisely, "and it's a bad +thing to get your feet wet—Sophie screams +fearfully at me if I put my toe out, even +long after the rain has stopped."</p> + +<p>"Yes, when you go in your thin shoes, of +course," cried Mervyn; "but big boys like +Frank Collins are not afraid of wetting their +feet. Are they, Miss Kerr?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think they are, dear," answered +the governess, laughing, "I know my +brothers run out in all kinds of weather."</p> + +<p>"Come in, my boy! Here they are at +their dinner," said Mr. Dashwood, opening +the door at this moment, and entering the +room with young Collins. "Miss Kerr, this +is our young friend who so bravely saved +poor Bunny yesterday," he added as he presented +Frank to the governess.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to see you, Master Collins,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +and these children have been longing for +you to come," said Miss Kerr; "it was very +brave of you to stop the pony."</p> + +<p>"Brave! not at all, Miss Kerr," answered +Frank with a bright honest smile that won +the lady's heart at once. "I don't think the +pony was really running away, and if this +little girl," and he patted Bunny on the +head, "had not been frightened, but had sat +up properly and kept a good hold of her reins, +she would have been all right."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Bunny, Bunny, you little coward," +cried Miss Kerr, "and so, after all, it was you +who held on by the mane, and not Mervyn, as +you so gaily told him he would do yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Did she tell him that?" asked Frank as +he took a seat at the table beside Mervyn. +"Well, I think this little chap would be the +bravest of the two in real danger. He would +not be so rash, perhaps, but I think he would +keep cool and not lose his head as she +did."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I was frightened," sighed Bunny. +"I was sure Frisk was running away;" and +she looked so very tearful that her papa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +kindly changed the conversation by asking +his young guest how he liked staying at +Scarborough.</p> + +<p>"Are there many nice walks about?" asked +Mr. Dashwood, when they had all finished +their lunch and were preparing to leave the +table. "I mean short walks within easy +distance, where these little folks could go, +for instance?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there's the old castle," said Frank, +"on the West Cliff, then there's the people's +Park in the valley, which of course you all +know well, and Oliver's Mount, which I think +the nicest walk of any."</p> + +<p>"Oliver's Mount! Oh, that is a nice place," +said Bunny, who had quite recovered her gay +spirits again. "Sophie says she went up there +one day with some friends, and she had +buns and lemonade and all kinds of things, +in a little house, a funny small house, she +says, that is up there on the top. Do take +us up Oliver's Mount, like a dear good +papa."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know the little house Sophie +means," said Frank; "it is only a small shed, +you can just see it from the window, look,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +there it is, right away up on the top of the +mount."</p> + +<p>"It looks a great height, certainly," said +Mr. Dashwood. "I wonder if these little ones +could manage to go such a long way."</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, we could, we could," cried the +children together.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, I suppose we had better +set off at once," said Mr. Dashwood; "you +have no objection to my taking these small +people, Miss Kerr?"</p> + +<p>"Not the slightest," she replied. "I was +going to send them with Sophie, but I am +sure they will enjoy going with you much +better. Mrs. Dashwood is not well enough +to go out, so I intend to read to her the +best part of the afternoon."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear that, for I was afraid +she might feel dull if we set off for a long +walk," said Mr. Dashwood. "Well, run +away, children, and get ready; the sooner we +start the better."</p> + +<p>"It will be a long way for their little legs +if we go right to the top," said Frank doubtfully. +"Mervyn doesn't look very strong, +and Bunny's legs are very short."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>"Indeed they are not," cried Bunny indignantly. +"I can walk splendidly; can't I, +Miss Kerr?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, you are a very good walker +for your age and size."</p> + +<p>"There, do you hear that?" cried Bunny, +jumping off her chair and throwing her arms +round her father's neck. "Do take us, do +take us, dear darling old papa."</p> + +<p>"You little rogue!" cried Mr. Dashwood, +"I do believe you could coax the birds off +the bushes."</p> + +<p>"No, papa, indeed I couldn't," answered +Bunny gravely; "I often tried, but they +would not come; and I tried to put salt on +their tails too, but they flew away and—"</p> + +<p>"You dear little goose, that was a great +shame; they must have been very rude birds +indeed, my poor Bun," said Mr. Dashwood +with a hearty laugh at the child's simplicity. +"You have coaxed me anyway, dear. I will +take you to Oliver's Mount; and I have +thought of a plan that will save your short +legs and Mervyn's weak ones a good deal."</p> + +<p>"A plan! Oh! what is it? you dear, +darling papa," she cried joyfully.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>"No, I won't tell you, little one. Run off +and get dressed, and you will see what it is +when you come back. Away you go!—both +of you. Be quick, or Frank and I will not +wait for you."</p> + +<p>Bunny and Mervyn were both very curious +to know what this wonderful plan of Mr. +Dashwood's could be, and chattered away +about it as they were being dressed by +Sophie.</p> + +<p>"To the top of Oliver's Mount!" cried the +maid, holding up her hands in astonishment +when the children told her where they were +going. "Gracious! is it that monsieur your +papa knows how far it is? You will both +be too tired to return home to-night."</p> + +<p>"Then we shall sleep in that little house +at the top, among the buns and the lemonade," +said Mervyn. "That would be fine +fun, wouldn't it, Bunny?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," replied the +little girl. "But do not be frightened, +Sophie; papa has a fine plan, so we sha'n't +be one bit tired. Come on, Mervyn," and, +laughing merrily, the two children ran off +together down-stairs.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>"Papa, papa! where is your plan?" cried +Bunny, as they met her father and young +Collins in the hall. "We do so want to +know what your wonderful plan can be."</p> + +<p>"Here it is, then, my dear," said Mr. Dashwood, +and he threw open the door, and displayed +two steady-looking old donkeys +standing ready saddled at the gate. "You +are to ride one of those fellows, and Mervyn +the other. That is my plan; isn't it a good +one?"</p> + +<p>"Capital! capital! What fun! what fun!" +cried the children, clapping their hands in +delight. "But, papa, the donkeys will never +go up the mountain," exclaimed Bunny suddenly; +"Sophie says there is a big stile to +get over, so how will they manage that?"</p> + +<p>"We won't ask them to go over the stile," +said Frank Collins, as he lifted the little girl +and seated her comfortably on the saddle.</p> + +<p>"They will carry you up the road to the +foot of the Mount, and then we will leave +them there to rest and eat some grass, while +we go on our rambles up to the top."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't it a capital plan of papa's, Mervyn, +to get us these donkeys?" asked Bunny,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +as she and her cousin jogged quietly along +the road on the steady old animals. "These +are such nice well-behaved creatures, and +don't run away in a hurry like Master Frisk."</p> + +<p>"No, I should think not," answered Mervyn +laughing. "Why, just look at this +fellow," he cried as his donkey came to a +sudden stand-still in the middle of the road. +"What can we do to make him go on? +Here, boy, please make him move a little," +he shouted to the donkey-boy, who was +loitering behind talking to a comrade.</p> + +<p>"Hey up!" screamed the lad, running up +quietly from behind, and bringing his stick +down heavily on the poor brute's back; +"hey up, Teddy!" and away trotted the +donkey at a rapid pace up the hill.</p> + +<p>When Bunny's charger saw his companion +starting off so gaily, he pricked up his ears +and followed him as fast as ever he could.</p> + +<p>"Your plan was a capital one, uncle," said +Mervyn, as he and Bunny jumped off their +donkeys and prepared themselves to climb +over the stile and begin their walk up the +mount together.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you feel as fresh as a couple of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +daisies, and not at all shaken?" said Frank +Collins. "Come along and we'll have a race +to the very top;" and away he ran nimbly up +the side of the hill.</p> + +<p>Bunny and Mervyn struggled bravely after +him, and they went so fast that they soon +left Mr. Dashwood behind them, for he +declared that he was too old to run, and that +he would follow them at his leisure.</p> + +<p>The grass was very slippery after the rain, +and the mount was very steep, and so, +although the children went as fast as +their little legs could carry them, yet they +could not keep up with their young friend, +who soon appeared a long way above them, +waving a handkerchief, and cheering and +shouting at the top of his voice. But at last +they all reached the highest part of the +mount, and, puffing and panting after their +fearful exertions, they seated themselves upon +a bench and gazed about them in delight.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it jolly up here, Mr. Dashwood?" +said Frank. "I think it would be worth +climbing ever so much higher to see such a +sight, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed I do," answered Mr. Dash<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>wood; +"and the air is very fine; it feels so +fresh and strong. That is the old castle +away over there, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and doesn't the old part of the +town, with its queer red brick houses and +narrow streets, look pretty? And look at +the bay in front of it, with its ships and +barges. Doesn't it all look lovely in the +sunlight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Frank, it does look pretty," cried +Mervyn; "and isn't the sea a beautiful blue +colour?"</p> + +<p>"And don't our donkeys look funny little +gray fellows, away down there on the road?" +cried Bunny. "Oh, dear! they do look far +away."</p> + +<p>"Bunny would rather look at her donkey +than all the beauties of the country," said +Mr. Dashwood with a smile, as he took his +little girl upon his knee. "But these youngsters +must not be defrauded of their cakes +and lemonade, Frank. Would you mind +going into that wonderful shop to see if you +can get some?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! they have lots of good things in +there, I know," answered Frank. "I hope<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +you will be able to eat a good supply, +Bunny?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I feel able to eat several cakes," +cried Bunny; "thank you, dear papa, for +thinking of them. I do love buns and lemonade. +Don't you, Mervyn?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Bunny, very much," replied her +cousin.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I shall get scolded for letting +you have them," said Mr. Dashwood, as +Frank appeared, carrying an armful of cakes +and buns, and followed by a man with glasses +and bottles of lemonade.</p> + +<p>"If you eat all these you won't be able to +take anything at tea, and then Miss Kerr +will be so dreadfully angry."</p> + +<p>"Oh! never mind, papa, dear," cried +Bunny; "cakes and lemonade are just as +good as tea, but I will eat as much as ever +I can when I go home, and then no one will +scold you."</p> + +<p>"That's a good, kind little woman," said +her father laughing; "but finish up those cakes +now as fast as you can, for I want to get +back to the club for an hour before dinner."</p> + +<p>"I will just put this in my pocket for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +donkey-boy, papa," said the little girl, holding +up a bun which she could not manage to +eat; "he was very good, and made the donkeys +go so well."</p> + +<p>"I think we will go round by the road, +Frank," said Mr. Dashwood, rising from the +bench; "it is not quite so steep as the +mount, and is very little longer."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I daresay it will be the best +way to return; it will be a variety anyway," +said Frank. "Mervyn, will you walk with +me? I want to talk to you about India and +all our friends there."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said the little boy, "that is the +very thing I should like."</p> + +<p>"But our donkeys—oh! are we not going +home on our donkeys?" cried Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Of course we are, you little grumbler," +said her father. "We are only going to walk +round by the road to them instead of tumbling +pell-mell down the hill again. Come +along with me, and let these two boys talk +over their affairs together."</p> + +<p>Then, taking his little girl by the hand, +Mr. Dashwood walked quickly away with +her down the hilly road. Frank and Mervyn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +followed them slowly arm-in-arm, and the +elder boy, with a look of yearning love in +his eyes, asked his small friend many +anxious questions about the dear father and +mother whom he had not seen for such a +long time.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap10_div.jpg" title="chap10_div" height="50" width="99" alt="chap10_div" /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_11.jpg" title="chap_1" height="99" width="400" alt="chap_11" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_xi" id="chapter_xi"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>WAS IT CRUEL?.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap11_o.jpg" title="O" height="200" width="93" alt="O" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">ne</span> lovely afternoon towards the end +of September Mrs. Dashwood and +Miss Kerr sat together on the lawn +in front of the house. They were +stitching away at some pretty +clothes, that were evidently intended for a +large wax doll, with golden ringlets and blue +eyes, that lay on a table that stood between +them on the grass.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood looked pale and delicate +still, but there was a well-pleased smile upon +her sweet face as she sat enjoying the sea +breezes. She was comfortably propped up +with pillows in a large wicker chair, and her +thin white fingers were busily engaged on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +her dainty work. The fresh country air had +done her great service, and she was full of +the hope that she should soon return quite +strong and well to town.</p> + +<p>Bunny lay curled up in another big chair, +and although she knew very well that the +pretty doll was intended for her, she looked +very cross and did not seem to notice what +was going on about her.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you go and play, Bunny?" +said Miss Kerr looking up from her work. +"I do not like to see you tumbling about +there with such a cross look on your face. +Go and get a book—or will you have a +needle and thread and try to do some +sewing?"</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," answered Bunny, "I +hate books and I can't sew."</p> + +<p>"But you might learn, dear," said her +mother gently. "It is a great pleasure to +be able to sew, Bunny. I quite enjoy doing +my piece of work after being obliged to lie +on the sofa for such a long time."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to learn to sew," cried +Bunny. "I want to have a game. I am +tired sitting here, mama. Oh, I do wish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +Mervyn and Frank would be quick and come +back."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear Bunny, they will soon be +here," said Miss Kerr. "They promised to +be back at three and it wants a quarter to +three now, so you won't have very long to +wait."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'm so glad!" cried Bunny; "I've +spent such a nasty dull day without +them."</p> + +<p>"Well, really now!" said her mother laughing; +"that's a kind thing to say. I thought +my little girl liked being with me."</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, mama, so I do," answered +Bunny quickly; "but Mervyn has been +away such a long time, and I do want him +to come back and have a good game with me. +He stayed to lunch with Frank up there at +the hotel, and Miss Kerr wouldn't let me go, +and oh, dear! I have been so lonely all +day."</p> + +<p>"Poor little girl!" said her mother, "but +Miss Kerr was quite right not to let you go, +Bunny; Frank will have quite enough to do +to manage Mervyn. You are very hard to +keep in order, for you are very wild and—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>"Oh! I'm not a bit wild now, mama; I'm +as quiet as a lamb—I am indeed."</p> + +<p>"Bunny, Bunny, where are you, I say?—where +are you?" called Mervyn, running up +the garden walk and across the lawn.</p> + +<p>"Here I am, Mervyn, and oh! I am so +glad you have come back," and the little girl +rushed forward eagerly to meet her cousin. +"But where is Frank? I thought he was +coming back with you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so he is. He will be here in a +minute; and he has something for you, +Bunny."</p> + +<p>"Something for me, Mervyn; oh! what is +it?" she cried; "do tell me what it is."</p> + +<p>"He'll tell you himself—he'll tell you +himself," answered Mervyn, and going down +on the grass, he tumbled heels over head two +or three times in succession.</p> + +<p>"You tiresome boy," cried his cousin, "do +get up and tell me what Frank has for me, +and where he got it, and—"</p> + +<p>"Go and ask Frank himself—there he is," +shouted Mervyn, starting quickly to his feet +again, as young Collins appeared suddenly at +the top of the flight of steps that led from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +the drawing-room into the garden. His hands +were both behind his back, and he laughed +merrily when he saw Bunny's face of excitement +and curiosity as she ran across the +lawn to meet him.</p> + +<p>"You dear good Frank, Mervyn says you +have something for me," she cried; "do tell +me what it is. I do so want to know."</p> + +<p>"A bird, Bunny; a young thrush," said +Frank gaily, as he drew a small cage from +behind his back and held it up to the little +girl. "I put him in here because it was the +only thing I could find; but I will get you a +proper big cage for him to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh! never mind the cage; but let me +see the bird," cried Bunny.</p> + +<p>"He is rather frightened just now, Bun, +but I think he will soon sit up and begin to +sing; and thrushes do sing beautifully."</p> + +<p>"He is a dear little fellow! a perfect darling! +But where did you get him, Frank?" +asked Bunny in delight, as she danced joyfully +round her new treasure. "Did you +manage to put salt on his tail?"</p> + +<p>"He hasn't got a tail, Bunny," answered +Frank, laughing; "he is so young that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +hasn't got one yet. I caught him quite +easily in the hotel garden."</p> + +<p>"Mama, Miss Kerr, look at the lovely bird +Frank has brought me," cried Bunny, running +back to her mother's chair.</p> + +<p>"A bird, Frank?" said Mrs. Dashwood, +looking into the cage in surprise. "What a +pity it was to catch him and put him in +prison, poor little creature; he looks dreadfully +frightened."</p> + +<p>"In prison, mama!" cried Bunny indignantly. +"Why, it's a lovely cage; and see, +he has water, and hard-boiled egg, and bread +sopped in water, and—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, I see all those things, but +still he is in prison, Bunny," said Mrs. Dashwood +gently, "and I think it would have +been much kinder to have left him to fly +about the woods and sing his sweet songs in +happy freedom."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid he will never sing again," +said Miss Kerr as Frank placed the cage on +the table beside her; "he looks as if he were +going to die, I think; just see how he has +gathered himself up into a ball, and his eyes +are shut."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>"Oh! I hope he won't die," cried Frank; +"I am sorry I caught him, Mrs. Dashwood. +Shall I let him fly away again?"</p> + +<p>"No, you sha'n't, Frank; he is my bird, +and you must not let him fly away," cried +Bunny; "I want to keep him."</p> + +<p>"But, Bunny, your mama thinks he would +be glad to get away, so I would rather let +him go. Do say I may send him off."</p> + +<p>"No, no, Frank, you sha'n't; I want him; +he's mine now," answered the little girl in an +angry voice; "I will have him and keep +him;" and making a dive across the table +she seized the cage and ran away with it +down the garden.</p> + +<p>"Bunny! Bunny! come back this minute," +cried her mother and Miss Kerr together.</p> + +<p>"I'll soon bring her back!" exclaimed +Frank, and off he went after the runaway.</p> + +<p>When Bunny heard footsteps behind her +she turned her head to see who it was that +was following her, and as she ran along without +looking where she was going, her foot +came against a stone, and down she went, +cage and all, upon the gravelled path.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>"Oh, you cruel big boy!" she cried, +bursting into tears. "Why did you come +after me and make me fall in that way? I'll +never speak to you again—never;" and, +gathering herself up from the ground, she +began to rub her knees, and brush the dust +and sand off her frock.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't be silly, Bunny," said Frank, +as he picked up the cage. "You are not a +bit hurt—but, look here! I believe you have +killed the poor bird."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, Frank, dear! oh! I didn't do +that!" sobbed the little girl, coming forward +and looking wistfully into the cage.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am afraid he is dead. He was +very much frightened before," said Frank +sadly, "and the shock of the fall, and all the +water and things falling on him have killed +him. I am so sorry. I wish, now, I had +left him to sing happily in the garden, Mrs. +Dashwood," he said, going back to where the +ladies sat together, carrying the poor dead +thrush in his hand. "You were quite right; +it was a great pity to take the poor bird and +put him in a cage. I will never catch a +young bird again—never."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>"Poor little creature! I thought it would +not live long," said Miss Kerr; "but, Bunny, +you were very naughty to run away with it +in that way; I am sure the fall helped to +kill the thrush."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to kill it!" cried Bunny +in a choking voice. "Oh! mama, I am so +sorry!" and she flung herself on the ground +beside her mother's chair, and buried her +face in her lap.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Bunny, dear," whispered +Mervyn softly, as he stole up and put his +arm round her neck. "Don't cry, dear; I am +sure it would have died very soon anyway. +Wouldn't it, Miss Kerr?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, I think it would," said the +governess gently. "But what are you going +to do with the thrush, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I suppose I must bury it," answered +Frank; "I wish I had a pretty box to put it +in."</p> + +<p>"I have one, I have one," cried Bunny, +jumping quickly to her feet, and running off +towards the house, mopping up her tears as +she went along. "I've got a dear little one +that will just do, Frank."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>"We must have a solemn funeral," said +young Collins. "Who will write an epitaph +to put at the head of his grave?"</p> + +<p>"An epee—what, Frank?" asked Mervyn, +with a puzzled look on his little face. "What +do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"An epitaph, you little simple Indian; +do you not know what that means?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Mervyn gravely, "I don't think +people in India ever have such things."</p> + +<p>"Don't they indeed! Bunny, what is an +epitaph?" asked Frank, laughing merrily as +he took a pretty bon-bon box from the little +girl's hand.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I'm sure," said Bunny; "I +never heard of such a thing. What is it +yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a clever pair! Why, it's +something written on a tombstone," cried +Frank, and, taking a piece of paper out of his +pocket, he scribbled a few words, and then +proceeded to read them aloud. "Listen and +learn what an epitaph is, my friends:—</p> + +<div class="block2" style="width: 400px;"> +<p>"Beneath there lies a little thrush,<br /> +Who should have sung on many a bush."</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>"Capital!" said Miss Kerr, laughing merrily +at this brilliant production. "Why, you +are a regular poet!"</p> + +<p>"It is very good indeed, Frank," said Mrs. +Dashwood with a bright smile. "Now, +Mervyn, I hope you know what an epitaph +is?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think so," said Mervyn slowly; +"but no one says bush like thrush. It +doesn't sound at all right."</p> + +<p>"Hallo! young Indian, are you going to +find fault with my pronunciation? Isn't it +splendid, Miss Bun, bun?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not bun, bun, and I think Mervyn +is quite right," answered the little girl with +a toss of her head. "It sounds very funny, +and all that, but it isn't the proper way to +say the word, I know."</p> + +<p>"Of course not, little Miss Wisehead, but +we are allowed to say all kinds of things in +poetry," said Frank grandly; "and I can tell +you it's jolly convenient when a fellow wants +a rhyme. But now that we have decided +this knotty point, let us go and look for a +nice place where we can bury the little +fellow;" and, having placed the thrush in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +box, he went off to look for a suitable burying-place.</p> + +<p>"Put him in my little garden," cried +Bunny eagerly. "There are lovely flowers +there, and we can make him such a nice +grave."</p> + +<p>"Where is your garden, monkey?" said +Frank. "I did not know you had such a +thing."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have; at least I call it mine," +answered Bunny, skipping gaily along. +"It's a dear little flower-bed down there by +the sun-dial, and it will be such a pretty +place for the poor dead bird. Do bury him +there, Frank."</p> + +<p>"Very well; what pleases you pleases me," +and off they went to Bunny's garden.</p> + +<p>Very carefully Frank dug up the earth, +and, having placed the bird within the +grave, he filled it in neatly, took a lovely +geranium from a neighbouring flower-bed, +and planted it just over the poor songster's +head.</p> + +<p>"We must water it," cried Bunny, "or it +will not grow," and away she rushed to the +tool-house. Here she found the gardener's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +watering-pot, and, unfortunately for them all, +it was more than half-full of water.</p> + +<p>"This will make the flowers grow beautifully," +she cried; and before the boys had +time to speak or stop her hand, she tilted up +the heavy pot and sent the water flying all +over their feet and legs.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Bunny, Bunny! just see what you +have done," exclaimed Mervyn, beginning to +cry as he felt the cold water soaking in +through his stockings and shoes. "Oh, dear! +what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"You little mischief!" cried Frank, shaking +himself. "What on earth made you do +that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I wanted the flower to grow," said +Bunny, bursting into tears, "and I did not +mean to wet you and Mervyn at all; and +look at my own pinafore and frock. Oh, +dear! what will Sophie say?"</p> + +<p>"Sophie will say you are a naughty, +wicked little creature," cried the maid, darting +out suddenly from behind a tree. "Come +in this minute and get your things changed. +Monsieur Mervyn, go to the nursery at +once."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>"I won't go! I won't go a bit!" cried +Bunny, stamping her foot angrily. "The sun +will dry me in a minute, and I won't go +with you; so there!"</p> + +<p>"Come along, Bunny, like a good girl," +said Mervyn, "let us run fast and see who +will get up to the nursery first," and away +he went up the path as fast as he could.</p> + +<p>"I won't go, Sophie. I want to stay with +Frank," cried Bunny once more, as she caught +the boy's hand and held on to it tightly.</p> + +<p>"You ought to go, dear, indeed you ought," +said Frank. "See, Mervyn has gone, and +you know you should always do what Sophie +tells you."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't; she's a nasty thing! and +it's twice as nice out here, so I won't go one +bit."</p> + +<p>"Your mama and Miss Kerr have returned +to the house, and you must come in +and get changed your dress, mademoiselle."</p> + +<p>"I won't! I won't," shrieked Bunny, clinging +more closely to Frank, and turning her +back upon her nurse in a most impertinent +manner.</p> + +<p>"We shall see if you do not, you bad,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +naughty child," cried Sophie in an angry +voice, and running forward she seized the +little girl in her arms, and carried her off +screaming and kicking into the house.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap11_div.jpg" title="chap11_div" height="50" width="109" alt="chap11_div" /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_12.jpg" title="chap_12" height="98" width="400" alt="chap_12" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_xii" id="chapter_xii"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIREWORKS.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap12_a.jpg" title="A" height="200" width="106" alt="A" /></div> +<p> <span class="smcap">little</span> before seven o'clock that +evening the children stood at the +drawing-room window. All traces +of the recent struggle in the garden +had been removed, and in the neat +little girl in the dainty cream lace and muslin +frock, with its fluttering pink ribbons, few +persons would have recognized the small +fury that Sophie had carried off wriggling +and crying to the nursery a few hours before.</p> + +<p>But Miss Bunny had already forgotten +that such a scene had ever taken place, and +was making very merry over a big blue-bottle +fly that she and Mervyn were doing their +best to catch as it walked up and down the +window-pane.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>Frank Collins sat at the piano playing +some very lively tunes, and from time to +time Bunny would pause in her pursuit of +the fly and dance lightly over the floor in +time to the music.</p> + +<p>"Papa, papa," she cried, as Mr. Dashwood +entered the room with his wife upon his arm, +"doesn't Frank make lovely tunes?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, dear," answered her father. +"Frank does not seem anxious to let me hear +his music, for he has stopped short the +moment I appeared."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid Mrs. Dashwood would not +care for my music," answered Frank modestly. +"I only play from ear."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Frank, how can you say such a thing!" +cried Bunny indignantly. "Why, mama, he +plays just like Miss Kerr does. He plays +away up in the treble with two hands, and +then he plays pum, pum, pum away down in +the bass; oh, it is most beautiful! Do play +again, Frank."</p> + +<p>"No, dear, not now," said Frank. "I'll play +for you another time, but don't ask me now;" +and he hopped the little girl up on his knee.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, ask—you know what," whis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>pered +Bunny mysteriously. "You know you +said you would—you promised."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, of course; I very nearly forgot," +said Frank, "and I suppose Sophie will soon +be carrying you off to bed, it's nearly half-past +seven."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she will, unless you ask that, and +papa and mama say, Yes."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Dashwood," said Frank, "it's a gala +night, as they call it, on the Spa, and there +are to be fireworks, so will you let these +little people stay up for them? Please do."</p> + +<p>"What! to go out in the night air and +into the crowd?" asked Mrs. Dashwood in a +horrified voice. "My dear Frank, I could not +think of allowing such a thing. It is quite +impossible!"</p> + +<p>"Of course it is, Mrs. Dashwood," answered +Frank. "But I did not mean them to go out +at all, I—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, dear mama," cried Bunny eagerly, +"Frank does not want us to go out, but to +sit up and see them from Miss Kerr's window, +that is all."</p> + +<p>"Bunny, come here, dear, I want to have +a talk with you," said her mother gravely,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +and guessing that she was going to receive +a scolding for her naughty conduct in the +garden, the child stole slowly over the floor, +and at last stood in rather a shamefaced +manner beside her mother's chair.</p> + +<p>"Do you think, Bunny, that a little girl +who screamed and kicked as you did when +Sophie took you in out of the garden, deserves +to be allowed to stay up to see the fireworks?"</p> + +<p>"No, mama," answered Bunny in a low +voice, and two large tears trickled down her +cheeks and fell on her mother's hand.</p> + +<p>"Auntie, dear, don't scold poor Bunny, for +she is very sorry she was naughty, and she +begged Sophie's pardon before we came down."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am glad to hear that, Mervyn," +said Mrs. Dashwood, "and I hope Bunny is +sorry; but I don't think she should be allowed +to stay up to see the fireworks, she cannot +expect it."</p> + +<p>"Why, mama, what is all this about?" +said Mr. Dashwood, coming over and putting +his arm round his little daughter. "Why +are you scolding poor Bunny so much?"</p> + +<p>"Because I was naughty, papa," said Bunny, +creeping up very close to him. "But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +I am very sorry, and I promise to be +good."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, don't scold her any more, dear," +said her papa, stroking the little golden head, +"she can't do more than promise to be a good +child."</p> + +<p>"And do forgive her, and let her stay up +to see the fireworks," whispered Mervyn, "it +would be such fun!"</p> + +<p>"What is that you are saying, Mervyn? +What dreadful plot are you hatching over +there?" cried Mr. Dashwood, "why, the fireworks +don't go off until nine, and your bedtime +is at half-past seven, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know it is, uncle, but we're not a +bit sleepy, and we never saw any fireworks, +and this is the last gala night before we leave +Scarborough, and—"</p> + +<p>"My dear Mervyn, what a string of reasons!" +cried his uncle laughing; "after such +a list, I think we must surely grant your +request. That is, if mama will forgive this +poor culprit, and allow her to stay up."</p> + +<p>"Well, as she is sorry, and as Mervyn +says it is the last night, perhaps—"</p> + +<p>"That's right! that's right!" said her hus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>band, +"and now let us go in to dinner. This +animated discussion has given me quite an +appetite."</p> + +<p>And as Ashton at this moment threw open +the door, and announced that dinner was +served, Mr. Dashwood offered his arm to +his wife, and led her away to the dining-room.</p> + +<p>"What fun! what fun! to be allowed to +stay up to see the fireworks," cried Bunny, +and catching hold of Frank's arm she hurried +him off after her papa and mama.</p> + +<p>"Now, you must sit quiet, children," said +Mrs. Dashwood; "if you make a noise I shall +have to send you away to the nursery."</p> + +<p>"We'll be as quiet as mice," said Bunny, +and pulling Mervyn down on a large woolly +mat in the middle window, she began to +whisper joyfully about the treat that was in +store for them before the evening was over.</p> + +<p>The first part of the dinner seemed rather +long to the two little ones in their corner, but +when at last the dessert was placed on the +table, and Bunny was seated at her papa's +elbow, and Mervyn between his aunt and his +dear friend Frank, they all became so merry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +together, that the fireworks were for the +time completely forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Oh, papa, I heard such a funny noise just +now," cried Bunny suddenly, "what can it +be? Listen, there it is again—whizz—whizz—"</p> + +<p>"It's the first rocket, I'm sure!" exclaimed +Frank, dropping the nut-crackers, "let us go +off to a window somewhere, for I am sure the +fireworks are going to begin."</p> + +<p>"How jolly!" cried Mervyn. "Aunt, may +we run up to Miss Kerr's room?"</p> + +<p>"Can't we see them from here?" asked Mr. +Dashwood, pulling up the blind and looking +out. "What a beautiful dark night it is! +Better stay here, chicks, I think. See, there +goes another rocket!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is lovely!" cried Bunny, clapping +her hands. "But, papa, dear, we can see them +much better from Miss Kerr's room, she has +such a nice balcony, and she promised to let +us go up to it if mama would allow us."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, away you go," said her +father; "but be quick, or you will lose all the +fun."</p> + +<p>"Be sure and wrap yourselves up, dear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +children, if you go out into the balcony," +said Mrs. Dashwood. "The night air is very +sharp."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, mama, we will make ourselves as +warm as toast," cried Bunny gaily. "Come, +Frank, do come up to the balcony with us."</p> + +<p>"All right, little woman, jump upon my +back and we'll run a race with Mervyn."</p> + +<p>Very much delighted at such an invitation, +Bunny sprang from a chair on to Frank's +back, and away they went galloping madly +after Mervyn, up the stairs and along the +passage to Miss Kerr's room. There they +found Sophie waiting for them, heavily laden +with cloaks and shawls in which she insisted +on wrapping them up till they were nearly +smothered, and shrieked wildly for just one +little space through which they might manage +to breathe.</p> + +<p>"Very well, you will all catch your deaths +of colds," cried Sophie. "Miss Bunny, you +will want the doctor to-morrow, I am quite +sure;" and she flounced out of the room and +banged the door after her.</p> + +<p>"Good riddance to bad rubbish!" cried +Frank, laughing, as he released poor Mervyn's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +face from the thick shawl in which the maid +had rolled him up. "She's an awful scold +that Sophie."</p> + +<p>"But she's jolly kind to us sometimes," +said Mervyn stoutly; "and we torment her +dreadfully, don't we, Bunny?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we do indeed," answered the little girl; +"and she doesn't always scold, Master Frank."</p> + +<p>"Goodness me! don't be so indignant," cried +Frank. "I meant no offence. I daresay +Sophie is a regular angel."</p> + +<p>"She's not quite that," said Miss Kerr as +she opened the window and let the young +people out upon the balcony. "But I am +glad to hear the children stand up for her, +for, as Mervyn says, they do torment her, +and still she is very good-natured and kind +to them on the whole."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed she is," said Mervyn; "but +oh! just look at that, isn't it exquisite?"</p> + +<p>"Lovely!" cried Frank. "It's a regular +shower of golden hail! But I think I like +the Roman candles best. Look, Bunny, +there's one—see—those two stars—watch +how they change colour—first they're red—then +blue—then—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>"Oh, yes, yes," cried Bunny dancing about. +"There they go, right away over the sea! +What lovely things fireworks are!"</p> + +<p>"It is a pity we could not have gone +down on the Spa to see the set pieces," said +Frank. "I believe they are most beautiful. +But then the crowd is something dreadful."</p> + +<p>"Do they send the fireworks up from the +Spa?" asked Mervyn; "they look just as if +they were coming from the road up there in +front of the Crown Hotel."</p> + +<p>"No, they are sent from a place just over +the Spa, up among the trees there, but a long +way below the hotel."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear! there goes a splendid rocket," +cried Mervyn, "and doesn't it make a lovely +noise?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I can't bear the noise," said Bunny, +putting her fingers in her ears, "it makes me +jump."</p> + +<p>"Now that is really charming!" said Miss +Kerr, as the whole bay with its ships and +boats was suddenly illuminated by a brilliant +crimson light. "How lovely everything looks +in that soft, rich colour!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! and I declare you can see Oliver's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +Mount and the dear little cake shop," cried +Bunny. "And, Mervyn, I wonder where our +old donkeys are to-night," and she peered +away out in the direction of the sands where +the poor animals usually spent their days.</p> + +<p>"At home in their beds, my dear," said Miss +Kerr laughing, "and that's where small people +like you should be; it must be near ten +o'clock."</p> + +<p>"Oh! not yet, not yet," cried the children; +"we must stay and see the last of the fireworks!"</p> + +<p>"That is the last now, I'm sure," said +Frank. "That thick yellow light comes +from the grand finale, which we cannot see—ha! +there goes another rocket. Hurrah! +the whole thing is at an end."</p> + +<p>"Very well, my dears, you must say good-night," +said Miss Kerr; "your poor little eyes +are positively blinking with sleep, Bunny, +dear."</p> + +<p>"No, they're not," said the little girl, "but +they feel funny and won't go quite straight."</p> + +<p>"Are you getting a squint, then?" said +Frank. "Come along, old lady, a few hours' +sleep will make them go straight enough;"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +and putting one arm round Bunny and the +other round Mervyn, he marched them off to +the nursery, where he deposited them one +after the other on their little beds.</p> + +<p>The children were really quite tired out +with excitement, and the fatigue of sitting +up to such an unusually late hour; so when +Frank left them for the night, they did not +utter a word or make a complaint. They +said their prayers, were undressed at once, +and, laying their weary heads upon their +pillows, were soon fast asleep.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap12_div.jpg" title="chap12_div" height="50" width="152" alt="chap12_div" /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_13.jpg" title="chap_13" height="100" width="400" alt="chap_13" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_xiii" id="chapter_xiii"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>QUIET TIMES.</h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap13_i.jpg" title="I" height="200" width="85" alt="I" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">t</span> is to be hoped that you see some +improvement in Bunny's behaviour +since you first made her acquaintance, +though she was very naughty +on the day when the poor thrush +was killed.</p> + +<p>At all events she had been trying to be +good, and when she failed, or forgot her good +resolutions she was so willing to confess her +faults, and was so truly sorry for them, that +Miss Kerr and Mama, and even Sophie, were +always ready to forgive her. Miss Kerr had +quite won Bunny's heart by her constant +love and gentleness, so that the child could +not bear to give her pain. This made +Bunny more thoughtful, and she soon learned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +to check her outbreaks of temper and to +keep out of mischief.</p> + +<p>Mervyn, who was growing tall and strong, +was very much in earnest when he had promised +to try to be docile and obedient. He +did not forget that should he meet his dear +mother and father in London they would ask +him whether he had kept his word, and he +would not have told them a falsehood even +if he had been ever so naughty, for he was a +truthful boy, and not at all a coward.</p> + +<p>Mervyn often helped Bunny to remember +her promises too; and it seemed as though +after the night when they had seen the display +of fireworks they had both made up their +minds to go on steadily with their lessons +every morning. Miss Kerr was delighted, and +Sophie had really very little to do, for all the +afternoon, and sometimes in the evening also, +they were out on the sands, or on the hills, +or seated in the garden. The reason of this +was, that as Mr. Dashwood had given them +notice that the holiday was coming to an +end, they had implored their friend Frank +Collins to come often to see them, and as he +loved Mervyn and could talk to him about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +his dear father and mother, and listen to his +descriptions of life in Madras and Calcutta, +he used to come every day to take the children +out.</p> + +<p>Of this Mr. Dashwood was very glad, for +he was pleased that such a nice manly boy as +Frank should give up so much time to these +two young ones, and used to laugh at Miss +Kerr and tell her that they learnt more from +their young tutor Frank Collins than they +did from their governess. Miss Kerr often +made one of the party when they went out +together and she used to like to listen to +Frank too. He had been to a large school, +and was now only waiting for his parents +to return from India before going to another. +He had read a great many books, and could +remember several stories and accounts of +voyages and discoveries.</p> + +<p>The children would sit under a tree or +inside an old boat on the beach and listen +to him as he told them of the adventures of +sailors and travellers; or sometimes they +went with him for a ramble in the country, +and he could show them the different +kinds of trees and wild flowers, and point<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +out where the various birds built their +nests.</p> + +<p>Mervyn was quite surprised one day when +a lark sprang suddenly from a field of long +grass and went soaring up and up in the +clear sunshine till it looked only like a speck, +and at last could scarcely be seen, but yet all +the time kept trilling and singing its beautiful +song.</p> + +<p>As it sung it floated away to some distance +from the place from which it rose, and then +suddenly it seemed to sink from the air and +to drop amidst the grass again.</p> + +<p>"Wherever has it gone to?" said Bunny; +"there are no trees here, and where can its +nest be?"</p> + +<p>"Its nest is on the ground, in the long +grass of the field," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Oh then, it has just dropped into it," +cried Mervyn; "couldn't we go and see?"</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't find it except you could +trace the way to the spot where the bird first +rose," said Frank. "Directly the artful fellow +heard us coming he sprang out and started his +song so that he might lead us away from the +spot where the nest is, and now he has dropped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +in the grass a long way off to lead us still +further away."</p> + +<p>"Oh <i>do</i> let us go and look for it!" said +Bunny.</p> + +<p>"I think we'd better not," said Mervyn; +"remember the thrush, Bunny, and we might +kill some of the little birds."</p> + +<p>"Quite right, Mervyn," said Frank Collins; +"we should very likely step upon it or +frighten the hen bird so much that she +would leave the nest. It would be like +somebody coming and driving us away from +home, you know. When I was as young as +you are, I used to rob the nests of their eggs, +but I have left off doing so now, and even if +you should ever collect eggs you should only +take one from a nest and contrive not to +frighten the birds. But there are young +larks and not eggs in this nest, so we will let +them alone to grow strong and fly out into +the sunshine and sing under the blue sky, +won't we, Bunny?"</p> + +<p>You may well believe that the children +thought the last part of their holiday was the +pleasantest of all; for beside Frank they had +found another playmate, a great friend of his.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>His name was Captain, and he was a +grand, black, curly, Newfoundland dog. Such +a fine fellow was seldom to be seen, and he +learnt to lie down in a patch of grass on the +hill, just at the place where he could watch +for Bunny and Mervyn when they went out +for their afternoon walk.</p> + +<p>He would pretend to be asleep, and when +they came quite close to him would spring up +and begin to leap about, leading the way to +the sands, and barking or rolling over and +over till Frank or Mervyn threw a stick as +far as ever they could into the sea that he +might dash in after it and fetch it out.</p> + +<p>Captain was a splendid swimmer, and had +once jumped into the sea from the end of a +pier after a little girl who had fallen into the +water. The child would have been drowned, +but Captain seized her by the frock and held +her up till a boat could put out and fetch +her, and then the brave fellow turned and +swam ashore.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 7em;"> +<img src="images/chap1_div.jpg" title="chap13_div" height="50" width="121" alt="chap13_div" /></div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5em;"><img src="images/chap_14.jpg" title="chap_14" height="100" width="400" alt="chap_14" /></div> + +<h2><a name="chapter_xiv" id="chapter_xiv"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>BUNNY'S IMPROVEMENT. <span style="padding-left: 1em;">HOME AGAIN.</span></h3> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/chap14_t.jpg" title="T" height="200" width="101" alt="T" /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">he</span> time had arrived when the holiday +at Scarborough was to come +to an end. The last evening was +spent on the cliff. It was while +they were all sitting on the hillside +looking out to sea that Frank began to +talk to them about "lighthouses," those tall +buildings, having a strong lantern at the top, +the bright light from which can be seen +far out at sea, so that sailors may know to +what part of the coast they are going, and +may steer their ships in such a direction as +to avoid danger, or guide them into a place +of safety.</p> + +<p>Then Miss Kerr told them a story about +a lighthouse, and how a brave and thoughtful +little girl was able to save a great ship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +from being dashed to pieces on the rocks. +This lighthouse was at a very dangerous part +of the coast, and every day the lamps had to +be cleaned and fresh oil put in them, and the +great metal "reflectors" that were behind +the lamps and threw the light far out to +sea had to be burnished.</p> + +<p>The little girl was the child of the keeper +of the lighthouse, and he often took her with +him to stay there. He had a companion, for +in lighthouses there are mostly two men; but +one day this companion slipped off the ladder +up which he had to climb to light the +lamps in the great lantern, and broke his +leg. At the same time he struck his head +and became insensible, and so the father of +the little girl was obliged to leave her and +to fetch a doctor. He meant to come back +very soon, but the doctor was out, and in +trying to find him he was away for many +hours, and by the time he could get down +to his boat a great storm had come on, and +the waves were breaking over the shore so +that he could not put out to sea again.</p> + +<p>Night was coming on, and the poor fellow +paced the beach and wondered what was to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +be done, for it would soon be time for the +lamps to be lighted, and there was nobody +in the lighthouse but the helpless man and +his little girl. The sailors and fishermen all +came round, but it would have been a desperate +venture to put out a boat in such a +storm, and with the great waves roaring and +leaping on a long sharp ridge of rocks quite +close to where the lighthouse stood, nobody +could have expected to reach it alive.</p> + +<p>At last, just as the night was coming on, +the poor fellow prepared to risk his life rather +than leave the ships that might be far off at +sea without a guide or a warning; but six +strong men dragged a large boat down to +the edge of the shore where the waves were +lowest, and agreed to share his danger. Their +hands were on the boat ready to push her +in and then scramble to their places; an old +fisherman was in his seat ready to steer, when +he suddenly gave a shout and pointed towards +the lighthouse.</p> + +<p>There from the lantern high above the +roaring waves shone the brilliant beams of +the lamps, and with a hearty cheer the brave +fellows drew the boat back, and shading<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +their eyes with their hands stared as though +they had never seen the familiar light before.</p> + +<p>All night long they watched, till at break +of day the storm abated, the sea grew still, +and far far away they could see a great three-masted +ship rolling and tossing, with one of +her sails blown to rags, but still keeping off +the shore. The pilot had seen the lights, +and so knowing how to steer had kept her +away from the rocky reefs where she might +have been dashed to pieces.</p> + +<p>It was not till the sun rose high and they +were able to go out in their boats that the +men on shore could take the doctor to the +lighthouse, and then they found the little +girl kneeling beside the injured man and +feeding him with some cold tea which had +been left in the teapot. He had come to +his senses, and had tried to crawl to the ladder, +when he heard her voice singing softly +right up in the lantern. He contrived to +drag himself along the floor of the room, and +could just see a gleam from one of the lamps +coming through the chinks of the wood-work. +The child, when she found her father did not +return, had grown afraid; but her great fear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +was that the lamps would not be lighted, and +as the place grew dark she made up her +mind to try to light them herself. She had +seen her father clean the lamps, and had been +with him up the ladder, holding his strong +hand; and she knew too where the match +was kept, for she had been shown everything +about the place while she was there on those +long days alone with her father till the other +man came on duty in the evening. So up +she went, softly singing a hymn to herself, +and after steadying herself by one of the iron +rods that supported the lantern, put the +lighted match to the wick, and was so startled +to see the great yellow glare that shone from +the reflector that she nearly lost her balance. +When she reached the bottom of the ladder +she found her friend looking at her quite +wide awake; but he could do nothing to help +her, except by telling her how to manage +the light, and also how to move up there in +the great glass lantern of the lighthouse, so +that she might reach each lamp in turn.</p> + +<p>When her father came up the steep stair, +followed by a dozen of his comrades, she gave +a cry of delight and was in his arms in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +moment; and she was soon made such a pet +of by the men there that they all wanted +her to accept knives, and rings, and pocket +combs, and even tobacco-boxes, because they +had nothing else to offer her; but she had +her father and that was quite enough for +her, and as he held her to his breast she +could feel his tears fall upon her head, and +yet he was as brave as any man who lived +upon that coast.</p> + +<p>"However could she do it?" said Bunny, +who had earnestly listened to this story.</p> + +<p>"She forgot all about herself, Bunny, and +thought only of other people and of the duty +that was straight before her," said Frank +gently.</p> + +<p>Bunny remained very serious all the rest +of the evening; perhaps the story of the +child lighting the lamps reminded her of the +trick she had played poor old Ashton when +she poured water into his wine-glasses.</p> + +<p>But as we have seen already, Bunny was +improving, and her mama was indeed delighted +to notice the change, and quite shared +her sorrow that they were so soon to leave +for London.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>A day or two before they had begun to +pack up Mr. Dashwood brought the children +glorious news. Frank Collins was to go to +London and stay with them till the arrival +of his mother, who was on her voyage home +and would be in England in a few days. +Then he was to go to school, and perhaps +Mervyn would some day be sent to the same +school, but of course in a lower class.</p> + +<p>This last part of it was not very cheering +for poor Bunny, and she was ready to cry; +but she looked at Miss Kerr's kind gentle +face and saw the look of joy in Mervyn's +eyes, and so she choked back her tears, and +presently when Mervyn said softly, "Of +course I can't help being glad, Bunny, but +I shall never be anything but sorry to be +parted from you;" she was ready to say, +"And I shall be awfully sorry, Mervyn dear, +but then when the holidays come we shall +both know so much more, and—and—"</p> + +<p>Here poor Bunny broke down and hid +her face in her pinafore. But the next day +she had recovered her spirits, and she and +Mervyn were talking over their future plans, +for it would be some months before her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +cousin would know enough to enter even the +lowest form. But one chief reason for their +rapid recovery of spirits was that it would +be a whole month or more before Frank +himself could begin his studies, and there +were promises of visits to the Zoological +Gardens, the great Palm House at Kew, the +old Tower of London, and other places which +would remind them of the stories they had +heard, and of the books which they had yet +to learn to read.</p> + +<p>They had all these things to talk about +when they found themselves in the train +that was to carry them home, and were so +full of plans and expectations that they were +many miles upon the journey before they +remembered that they had not waved a +good-bye to their old friend Oliver's Mount, +or thought of the sorrow of leaving Scarborough +for smoky, noisy, old London.</p> + + +<h3 style="padding-top: 2em;">THE END.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Naughty Miss Bunny, by Clara Mulholland + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY *** + +***** This file should be named 19889-h.htm or 19889-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/8/19889/ + +Produced by Jacqueline Jeremy, Malcolm Farmer and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Naughty Miss Bunny + A Story for Little Children + +Author: Clara Mulholland + +Release Date: November 21, 2006 [EBook #19889] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY *** + + + + +Produced by Jacqueline Jeremy, Malcolm Farmer and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY. + + +[Illustration: THE BUTLER SURPRISES BUNNY.] + + +NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY + +A STORY +FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. + +BY + +CLARA MULHOLLAND +Author of "The Little Bog-trotters," &c. + +[Illustration: Logo] + +LONDON +BLACKIE & SON, LIMITED, 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C. +GLASGOW AND DUBLIN + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +Chap. Page + + I. ONLY FOR FUN, 9 + + II. PLEASANT NEWS FOR BUNNY, 27 + + III. BUNNY GETS UP EARLY, 37 + + IV. BUNNY GETS A FRIGHT, 49 + + V. THE LITTLE INDIAN, 59 + + VI. BUNNY FORGETS AGAIN, 69 + + VII. IN MISS KERR'S ROOM, 83 + +VIII. BUNNY TRIES TO SHOW OFF, 99 + + IX. MISS KERR PROMISES A PRIZE, 125 + + X. ON OLIVER'S MOUNT, 138 + + XI. WAS IT CRUEL? 152 + + XII. THE FIREWORKS, 167 + +XIII. QUIET TIMES, 179 + + XIV. BUNNY'S IMPROVEMENT. HOME AGAIN, 185 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + Page + +THE BUTLER SURPRISES BUNNY, _Frontispiece_ 19 + +BUNNY WELCOMES HER FATHER, 50 + +FRANCIS SAVES BUNNY, 115 + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY. + +CHAPTER I. + +ONLY FOR FUN. + + +"How nice!" cried Bunny. "Mama has sent for Miss Kerr, so I can do +exactly as I like for a little while. I am very glad papa brought us +up here, for it is so pretty and so cool, and these gardens are so +lovely;" and she gazed about her at the garden and the lawn and then +at the distant sea that lay just beyond them, sparkling and dancing +in the sunshine. "If I had no governess," continued the little girl, +"and no lessons, and no nasty nurse to say, 'Sit still, Miss Bunny,' +and 'Don't make dirty your frock, Miss Bunny,' I think I should be +jolly--yes, that's papa's word, jolly. But, oh dear, big people are +so happy, for they can do what they like, but _chindrel_ must do +everything they are told." And quite forgetting her pretty white +frock and dainty sash, and the many orders she had received not on +any account to soil them, she lay back comfortably upon the grass. + +Bunny, whose real name was Ethel Dashwood, was six years old, and +was one of the spoilt "_chindrel_," as she called children. If she +had had brothers and sisters, very likely Bunny would have been kept +in better order, but as she was quite alone no one could bear to +correct her, and so she became very hard to manage indeed. Her papa +indulged her, and thought she could do nothing wrong, whilst her +mama was so delicate that she was very seldom able to look after her +little girl, and left her to the care of a kind-hearted, but foolish +old nurse, who allowed her to have her own way in everything and +never for an instant thought of finding fault with her. + +This was all very well so long as Bunny was no more than a baby, but +when she came to be six years old Mr. Dashwood suddenly found that +her little girl was much too naughty, so she resolved to make a +change in the nursery, that would, she hoped, have a good effect in +every way. First of all old nurse was sent away, and a trim French +maid, with a quick sharp manner, was engaged to take her place. + +Bunny was sorry to part with nurse, who had always been kind to her, +but Sophie was so amusing, spoke such funny English, and sang such +merry songs that the little girl soon ceased to fret, and became +quite pleased with her new maid. + +The change of nurses Bunny bore in a quiet way that surprised +everyone in the house; but when her mother told her that she had +arranged with a young lady to come and live with them and be her +governess, the little girl burst into a passion, and stamping her +foot declared she would have no one to teach her, that she would say +no lessons, and that her mama was very unkind to think of such a +thing. + +Mrs. Dashwood was greatly shocked, and unable to understand such +naughtiness, rang the bell and ordered Sophie to take the child +away, and Bunny was carried off weeping bitterly. But this fit of +anger only made her mama more anxious to have some one to look after +her daughter, and in a few days the governess arrived, and Bunny was +set down to learn to read and write. + +This was a great change for the neglected child, and had her teacher +been a sensible person Bunny would doubtless have become a good +little girl in time. But unfortunately the governess was very +foolish, and thought it much easier to allow her pupil to have her +own way than to take the trouble to make her do what was right, and +so instead of doing the child good she did her harm, and Bunny +became more and more naughty every day. + +This was in June, and as London grew very hot and dusty, Mrs. +Dashwood declared they must all go away to the country, and her +husband, who wished them to have a nice holiday, went off at once +and took a beautiful house at Scarborough. + +Bunny was enchanted, and made up her mind to have great fun at the +seaside, and as the very day before they left town, her governess +was obliged to leave in a great hurry on account of a death in her +family, the little girl made up her mind that she was going to have +perfect freedom to do exactly what she liked and to play every day +upon the sea-beach. Sophie did not trouble her much except when she +was cross, and so Bunny set off to Scarborough in very high spirits. + +The house her papa had taken for them was a pretty rambling old +place, standing on a height just above the sea, and surrounded by +spreading trees and large gardens full of sweet-scented flowers. A +most charming spot indeed, and to the little girl from hot dusty +London it seemed a perfect paradise. + +The first days in the country passed away very happily, and Bunny +was not as wild as might have been expected by those who knew her, +when one day, as she ran through the hall, she stopped in +astonishment before a large trunk, and cried out to the butler, who +was standing near, "Who does that belong to, Ashton? Has a visitor +come to stay with us?" + +"A visitor, miss? No, a new governess, miss--she's just gone in to +speak to your mama;" and he hurried away to his pantry. + +"Nasty thing!" cried Bunny, stamping her foot and growing very red +and angry. Just when I thought I was going to be happy all by +myself! But I'll be so naughty, and so troublesome, that she'll soon +go away. I'll be ten times as hard to manage as I was before. She'll +not get hold of me to-night any way, and scampering off into the +garden she hid herself among the trees. + +But the new governess, Miss Kerr, was a very different person from +the last, and resolved to do her best to make her little pupil a +good well-behaved child. She was a kind, warm-hearted girl, who had +a great many small brothers and sisters of her own, and she never +doubted that in a short time Bunny would become as good and obedient +as they were. She soon found, however, that the task was not as easy +as she had fancied, and when she had been a few days at Holly Lodge +she began to fear that it would be a very long time before her +lectures and advice would have the smallest effect upon the wayward +little child. + +She had now been a whole week in charge of the girl, and she feared +that Bunny would never learn to love her. + +About half an hour before our story begins, Bunny and her governess +had been seated on the lawn together. Mrs. Dashwood sent to ask Miss +Kerr to go to her for a few moments, and that young lady had +hastened into the house, leaving her little charge upon the grass +with her book. + +"Do not stir from here till I return, Bunny," she said; "you can go +over that little lesson again, and I shall not be long." + +But as time went on and she did not return the child grew restless, +and feeling very tired of sitting still, began to look about to see +what there was for her to do. + +"Governesses are great bothers," she grumbled to herself as she +rolled about on the grass. "And now as Miss Kerr does not seem to be +coming back, I think I will have a climb up that tree--it looks so +easy I'm sure I could go up ever so high. There's nobody looking, so +I'll just see if I can go right away up--as high as that little bird +up there." + +Bunny was very quick in her movements, and a minute later her white +frock and blue sash were fluttering about among the leaves and +branches of a fine old tree that grew in the middle of the lawn. + +"Oh, dear! How lovely it would be to be a bird--cheep, cheep! If I +only had wings I should just feel like one this minute, perched up +so high," she said with a merry laugh, as she jumped and wriggled +about on the branch. + +But she quite forgot that the nursery window overlooked the lawn, +and that Sophie was sure to be sitting there at her work. In a +moment, however, this fact was recalled to her mind by the sound of +a wild shriek from the terrified maid. + +"Mademoiselle! Miss Bunny, you want to kill yourself, or tear your +sweet frock. Ah! naughty child, get down this instants, or I will +tell monsieur your papa." + +This was the one threat that had any power to move Miss Bunny, so +down she scrambled and ran away as fast as she could over the grass. + +There was still no sign of Miss Kerr, so the child wandered about, +wondering what was keeping her governess, and wishing she had +something to do, when all at once her eyes fell on a beautiful +rose-tree, almost weighed down with the quantity of its flowers, and +she flew at it in delight and began to pull off the lovely blossoms +and pin one of them into the front of her frock. But like most +foolish children she broke them off so short that there was no stalk +left with which to fasten them, and so the poor rose fell upon the +ground, and the little girl impatiently snatched at another and +dragged it ruthlessly from the branch. This went on for some time, +and would probably have gone on until not a flower remained upon the +bush, had not Sophie again made herself heard from the nursery +window. + +"Miss Bunny, how can you derange the beautiful roses?" she cried +indignantly. "There will be not one left to give to your papa when +he comes home, and you know he loves those sweet flowers so much." + +"Oh, I am so sorry," cried Bunny. "But there are some dear little +buds, and I will just leave them for papa. Who knows perhaps they +may be roses by to-morrow evening!" and away she flitted like a +white-winged butterfly in search of some other sweet flowers that +she might make her own, without fear of further interruption from +sharp-tongued Sophie. + +At last, when she had such a large bouquet that her little hands +could scarcely hold it, she wearied of her occupation, and stepping +softly to the drawing-room window, she peeped in just to see what +Miss Kerr and her mama could be doing that kept them shut up there +for so long together. + +"I'll take mama these flowers," she said to herself, "and I am sure +they will make her headache better. I'll just tap gently at the +window and Miss Kerr will let me in, and I'll be so good and quiet +that mama will not mind me being with her while she talks." + +Bunny waited for some minutes, hoping to be admitted to the room, +but no notice was taken of her knocking--for the ladies were too +much absorbed in their own affairs to trouble themselves about her. + +Mrs. Dashwood lay on the sofa, and her face had a flushed anxious +expression, as she listened to Miss Kerr, who was seated on a stool +by her side, and seemed to be talking very earnestly, but her voice +was low, and as the window was shut Bunny could not hear a word she +said. + +"Oh dear, what a lot Miss Kerr has got to say!" cried the little +girl impatiently. "She seems as if she had forgotten all about me. I +am tired of being out here all alone, so I'll just run in and play +with my dollies." + +Now the nearest way into the house was up a flight of steps and in +by the dining-room window, which was like a large glass door, and +always lay open in the most tempting manner possible. + +So up these steps went Miss Bunny, her hands full of flowers and her +mind bent on mischief, if she could only meet with anything to do +that would amuse her and give her some fun. + +[Illustration: THE BUTLER SURPRISES BUNNY.] + +The room into which she stepped was a very pretty one. It was very +nearly round, with many high windows looking out upon the pleasant +grounds and blue sparkling sea. Upon the walls were pictures of fine +thoroughbred horses, some of them with their little foals beside +them, others with a surly-looking old dog or a tiny kitten, their +favourite stable companion and friend. Bunny loved these pictures +and had given the horses pet names of her own, by which she insisted +on calling them, although their own well-known names were printed +under them, for they were all horses that had won a great number of +races during their lives, and so had become celebrated. + +The round table in the middle of the room was laid ready for dinner, +and looked very inviting with its prettily arranged flowers, +handsome silver, and shining glass. + +"Dear me, how nice it all looks!" said Bunny, as she marched round +the table on tip-toe. "One, two, three, four places. Why, it must be +for company. Well, I hope there will be somebody nice to talk to me. +I must get Sophie to put on my pretty new frock. But oh, dear, what +fun it would be just to put a tiny, little drop of water into every +glass! Wouldn't old Ashton wonder--just when he thinks everything is +nice for dinner? I will! I'll do it! It will be such fun! Oh, I'd +like to see his face; won't he be horribly angry?" + +Throwing her flowers on the floor, Bunny sprang to the side-board, +and seizing a water-jug she climbed up on each chair in turn and +poured a few drops of water into every glass all round the +dinner-table. + +Just as she came to the last wine-glass and held the jug ready to +let the water fall into it, the door opened suddenly and the +solemn-looking old butler entered the room. + +"Miss Bunny!" he exclaimed, and he looked so stern and angry that +the little girl felt frightened, and dropping the jug, scrambled off +the chair, seized her flowers, and ran out of his sight as fast as +she could. + +"I only did it for fun, Ashton," she called back from the door. "It +is clean water, so it won't do any harm." + +"Harm, indeed!" grumbled Ashton; "just as I thought I had everything +done until dinner time. Now I must begin and rub up all this glass +again;" and he began at once to remove the glasses from the table. +"Little himp that she is, that Miss Bunny! A perfect himp, and if I +had the governessing of her for sometime I'd--I'd--bah! there's that +bell again! Some folks is in a mighty hurry," and full of anger and +indignation against the little girl whom he could not punish for her +naughty trick, Ashton hurried to the hall door, longing for +something upon which he could vent his wrath. + +Bunny was skipping merrily in the hall, and the pretty roses that +she had gathered with so much pleasure lay scattered on the ground. +This sight did not tend to put the butler in a better temper, but he +made no remark, and passing by the little girl without a word he +opened the hall door with a jerk. A poor boy with a thin pinched +face stood upon the step. + +"If you please, sir, will you give me a bit of bread, for I am very +hungry?" he said in an imploring voice, as he gazed up into the +butler's face. + +"There's nothing for you. How dare you come here with your wretched +lies?" cried Ashton fiercely, and he shut the door with a bang. + +"That's not true, Ashton," cried Bunny darting forward and opening +the door again. "Wait, little boy, and I will get you something!" +and before the astonished butler knew where he was, she had rushed +into the dining-room, and came back carrying a large loaf and a pat +of butter that she had found upon the side-board. + +"You must not give that away, Miss Bunny," cried the man; "that is +in my charge, and I cannot allow you to give it to a beggar;" and he +tried to drag the bread from her hands. + +"You nasty man! I will give it to him if I like," she screamed. "My +papa always lets me do what I like, and you are only a servant--and +I will give it;" and she struggled to get away from him. "I only put +the water in your glasses for fun--but I'm very glad I did it--and I +wish I had put dirty water in--and I wish--let me go--I'll tell +papa, and he'll be very angry and--" + +"Bunny," said a soft reproachful voice, "my dear child, what is the +matter?" and Miss Kerr laid her hand gently upon the little girl's +shoulder. + +"That nasty Ashton won't let me give this loaf to a poor boy who is +there begging," cried Bunny; "he's very hungry and I want--" + +"Ashton is quite right, Bunny," said Miss Kerr gently; "give him +back the loaf, dear. It is not yours, so you have no right to give +it away. Have you no money of your own to give the boy?" + +"No, I have not," cried Bunny bursting into tears, "and I am sure +papa would not mind my giving the loaf away--he never does. Ashton's +a nasty, cross old thing;" and she flung the loaf on the floor. + +"Ashton is only doing his duty, Bunny, and you must not speak in +that way." + +"Well, I wish he wouldn't do his duty then," sobbed the little girl; +"it's a great shame of him to do his duty, when I tell him not." + +"Come, now, dear, dry your eyes and give this to the poor boy," said +Miss Kerr kindly; "see, I will lend you threepence to give to him, +and when your papa gives you some pocket-money you can repay me. The +boy will like the money better than the bread, I daresay, and you +will feel that you are giving something that is really your own." + +"Oh, thank you, thank you!" cried Bunny with delight, her tears +drying up in an instant. "You are good! You are kind!" and throwing +her arms round Miss Kerr's neck she kissed her over and over again; +then seizing the pennies she flew to the door, and handing them to +the boy said in a subdued voice: "Here, boy, a good lady gave me +these pennies for you. I am a greedy little girl and spend all my +own money on sweets, but I'll save up and pay Miss Kerr back very +soon." + +"That is enough, Bunny," said the governess, taking the child by the +hand. "I have something to tell you, dear, so come with me now." + +"Very well, I will come," answered Bunny quite meekly, and shutting +the door, she followed Miss Kerr down the hall. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER II. + +PLEASANT NEWS FOR BUNNY. + + +"And now, Bunny," said Miss Kerr, as she led the little girl into +the library and took her on her knee, "I am afraid you have been a +very naughty child. I do not like to scold you, you know, but when +children are told to stay in one place they should do so, and not +run about all over the house in the way you seem to have been +doing." + +"But you were so long away," replied Bunny, "and I was tired sitting +there all by myself. Sophie kept screaming at me not to touch the +flowers, so I had nothing to do." + +"And what about the lesson? Did you learn that?" + +"No, I didn't, it was so stupid," said Bunny, "I got quite tired of +it, and all the letters went wrong, so I thought I would go to the +nursery and play with my toys, and then when I went into the +dining-room there was nobody there, and I thought it would be great +fun to tease old Ashton, so I jumped on the chairs and poured water +into all the glasses, and he was so angry; and oh it was fun to see +his face when he cried out, 'Miss Bunny!'" and carried away with +delight at the recollection of her naughty trick, the little girl +clapped her hands and laughed long and merrily. + +"But, my dear child, do you not know that that was extremely naughty +conduct?" said Miss Kerr gravely. "It is very wicked to make anyone +angry, and it was very unkind of you to play such a trick upon +Ashton. How would you like if he were to spoil your toys or break +your dolls for you?" + +"Oh, I shouldn't like it at all," answered Bunny; "I'd be awfully +cross, and I'd get papa to send him away. That would be a good way +to punish him, I know." + +"Well, Bunny, you think you could punish him but he has no way of +punishing you, so you should always be very careful not to annoy or +trouble him. Besides, my child, we should never do anything to other +people that we know we would not like them to do to us. God wishes +us to be good and kind to everyone about us, remember, and to be +unkind is to disobey Him." + +"Oh, then, I'm very sorry that I was so naughty," cried Bunny, "for +Sophie told me this morning that God has been good and kind to me +always, for she says He gave me all the nice things I have, and my +papa and mama, so I should not like to vex Him when He has been so +kind to me." + +"If my little Bunny will just remember that, whenever she feels +inclined to be naughty she will soon find it easy to be good, and +she will be a much happier child, for then she will know that she is +pleasing God who has been good to her." + +"Oh, I will try, dear Miss Kerr, indeed I will," said the little +girl; "I'll be good and kind to God, and you, and papa, and mama, +because you are all so good to me;" and she laid her soft cheek +against Miss Kerr's face. + +"That is right, darling," said the governess with a smile; "and now +that I have given you a little lecture, and you have promised to be +good, I have a piece of news to tell you that will, I am sure, give +you great pleasure;" and she smoothed the child's fair hair with her +hand. + +"Good news! Oh, dear Miss Kerr, do tell me what it is," cried the +little girl eagerly. + +"Well, I have been having a long talk with your mama, Bunny, and--" + +"Oh, yes, I know that. I saw you talk, talk, talk, only I couldn't +hear what you were saying, because the window was shut." + +"No, I suppose not, dear, but listen. Your mama says you have an +uncle in India who has a little son of seven years old--" + +"Oh, I know that, Miss Kerr! Why, that's no news! Of course I know +about Uncle Jim and Cousin Mervyn. I never saw them though, but +still I know they are in India, an awfully hot place it is, Sophie +says." + +"Yes, so it is. But would you like to see this Cousin Mervyn, do you +think?" + +"Oh, I'd just love to see him--but is he black? Sophie says the +people in those countries are black. Oh, I shouldn't like a black +cousin, Miss Kerr, indeed I should not," cried Bunny in a piteous +voice. + +"You little goose, he's not black at all," cried Miss Kerr, laughing +at the little girl's look of consternation; "I have never seen him, +but his papa is supposed to be like your mama, so I daresay he will +have fair hair, blue eyes, and pink cheeks something very like your +own." + +"Oh, I'm glad he is like that, for indeed I could not bear a black +cousin. Once I had a black doll given to me for a present, and I +screamed and screamed till nurse put it away out of the nursery." + +"It is certainly very lucky that your cousin is not black, for it +would never do to scream at him, would it?" said Miss Kerr, "for he +has arrived in London and is coming here with your papa to-morrow +evening." + +"Oh, I am glad! Oh, I am glad!" sang Bunny, dancing round the room +on the points of her toes. "What fun it will be to have a little +cousin to play with! Will he stay long, Miss Kerr?" + +"Yes, a long time, Bunny," answered the governess. "It is too hot in +India for him to stay there any longer--indeed they think he has +stayed there too long already, and your mama has promised to take +care of him until he is old enough to go to school." + +"Oh, that will be a nice long visit," said the little girl; "he'll +be staying with us just as if it was home, and he was my own +brother." + +"Yes, dear, just so. He will be like your brother, I am sure; and he +is to have his lessons with you. I am to teach you both." + +"Yes, and I'll lend him my pony and I'll let him play with my +kittens. And oh, Miss Kerr, I'll give him tea out of my own little +tea-set; and we'll have such fun." + +"Yes, dear, it will be very nice, and I hope that little Bunny will +be a good child and not make her cousin naughty and teach him +mischievous tricks." + +"Oh, I'll be good, indeed, dear Miss Kerr. I won't want to be +naughty so much when I have someone to play with, for it's always +when I feel lonely that I want to play tricks on people." + +"Is that so really, you poor mite? Well, you will not be lonely any +more, Bunny, and I hope you will try hard and learn to read soon. +When children can read they do not want a companion so much, because +they can read pretty stories about other children and so amuse +themselves for hours together." + +"Oh, I don't want to read stories one bit," said Bunny with a pout. +"Sophie and mama read lots of stories to me, so it doesn't matter +whether I can read them for myself or not." + +"And what will you do when you grow up, Bunny? Don't you think you +would feel very much ashamed if you could not read when you had +grown to be a tall lady?" + +"Oh, no one would ever know, for I am sure people never ask grown-up +ladies if they can read. Do they, now? No one ever asks you or mama +if you know how to read." + +"No, people never ask us if we can read, certainly, Bunny," answered +Miss Kerr laughing, "but they would soon find out if we did not, I +can tell you. People who cannot read seldom learn those things that +everyone should know, and so they are ignorant and stupid. Surely +you would not like Mervyn to beat you at his lessons, would you?" + +"Oh, but he's older than me," said Bunny, "and, of course, he knows +a great deal more than me, and----" + +"Than _I_, Bunny, say he is older than _I_ am," corrected Miss Kerr. +"Yes, he is older, but I do not think he knows more than you do. His +papa says he has never been taught anything but his letters, and he +can hardly speak English." + +"Oh, dear! Does he only speak French then?" said Bunny with a look +of alarm. + +"No, Hindustanee. That is the Indian language, you know, and as he +always had a native nurse he does not know English very perfectly. +But we will soon teach him, won't we, dear?" + +"Oh, yes, it will be fun, and I'll try very hard to learn to read +well before he does! It will be nice to have a cousin, won't it? I +wonder what he's like. But I'm sure he'll be nice. I know he will. +Don't you think he'll be nice, Miss Kerr?" + +"Yes, dear, I think it is very likely, but you will know all about +him to-morrow." + +"Oh, I wish to-morrow would come, quick, quick!" cried Bunny; "the +days and the hours go over so slowly, and I do want to see that +little Indian." + +"Poor little boy! I daresay he will be very tired and shy when he +arrives. It is a sad thing to leave father and friends and come +among strangers, Bunny," said Miss Kerr, and there were tears in her +eyes as she gazed out over the garden. + +"Dear Miss Kerr, why should you feel sorry for Mervyn? I'm so glad +that he is coming here," said Bunny softly, and she put her little +hand into Miss Kerr's. "Why should you cry for him? We will be very +kind to him, you and I, and papa and mama." + +"Yes, darling, of course," answered Miss Kerr stroking the little +hand. "But I was not thinking of Mervyn, but of someone I know, who +had to leave her dear home, her father and mother, and brothers and +sisters, to go be governess to a wild little girl, who did not care +to learn her lessons and did not love her at all." + +"Why, that's like me and you! But I do love you; oh, I do love you!" +cried the child, and she flung her arms round Miss Kerr's neck. +"You are so good and kind, and I am sorry you had to leave your +little brothers and sisters, and I won't be wild, and I'll love you +very much." + +"If you do, Bunny, you will make me very happy, and I think you will +soon be a very good little girl," and Miss Kerr kissed the eager +face over and over again. "But run away now and get ready for tea. I +have some letters to write for the post, and I shall just have time +if you run off at once." + +"Very well," said Bunny jumping off Miss Kerr's knee. "I must go to +tell Sophie the news." And away she ran, calling, "Sophie, Sophie," +as she went up the stairs. + +"She has a good little heart, and will become a fine character in +time, if she is properly managed," said Miss Kerr to herself as the +child left the room. "But she has been terribly spoilt and +neglected. If the boy from India is as great a pickle as Miss Bunny, +I shall have my hands very full indeed," and with something between +a sigh and a laugh, Miss Kerr seated herself at the table and began +to write her letters. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER III. + +BUNNY GETS UP EARLY. + + +For a long time after she went to bed that night, Bunny could not go +to sleep, and lay tossing about from side to side, wishing over and +over again that it was morning, that she might get up and put all +her toys and books in order, so that they should look as nice as +possible when she came to show them to the new cousin. + +At last she dropped off into a sound sleep, and did not wake again +until the sun was shining brightly into her room. She jumped up and +looked about to see if Sophie had gone to get her bath ready. But +the maid lay fast asleep in her bed at the other side of the room, +and poor Bunny felt sure she would not get up for a very long time +yet. She felt ready to cry at the thoughts of lying there for so +long doing nothing, whilst the sun was shining so brightly over the +sea and dancing so merrily up and down the nursery walls. Suddenly, +however, a happy idea presented itself to her mind, and she sprang +out of her crib with a soft well-pleased little laugh. + +"It will be such fun," she whispered to herself, "and Sophie will +get such a start when she sees the crib empty! But I must go about +very gently or she might wake up and send me back to bed." + +So the little girl slipped very quietly about the room, and +struggled bravely with buttons and tapes, as she did her best to +dress herself without the assistance of her maid. + +"They're all upside down and tied in big knots," she said ruefully, +"but Sophie will just have to do them all over again when she gets +up. Oh, dear, where are my boots, I wonder? I can't see them +anywhere about. Well, I must go out in these, I suppose;" and +sitting down on the floor she put on a pair of dainty Queen Anne +shoes, with satin bows and steel stars, that she had worn the +evening before when she went down to the drawing-room to see her +mama. + +At this moment Sophie turned round with a loud snore, and Bunny gave +a start of alarm, as she looked quickly towards the bed. If Sophie +awoke and saw what she was doing, all her fun would surely be +spoiled, and she would be sent back to her crib in disgrace. + +Very cautiously then she got up off the floor, seized her hat that +lay on the chest of drawers, and opening the door as softly as +possible, flew along the corridor and away down the stairs. + +Not a servant was to be seen about, for it was not yet seven +o'clock, and so Bunny passed on without any interruption into the +dining-room, and stood on tip-toe at the side-board looking +anxiously to see if there was anything there for her to eat. But +there was not even a crust to be seen. + +"Nasty old Ashton!" she cried, "he might have left a few pieces of +bread for me; but he wouldn't, I'm sure, even if he had known I was +coming. I must get something for my dear pony, now that I am up, so +I'll go off to the larder and see what I can find there." + +So away went Bunny in high glee at her clever thought; but when she +arrived at the larder door she found it locked, and she was about to +turn away sad and disappointed when a sudden jingling of keys was +heard in the passage, the kitchen door opened, and Mrs. Brown, the +cook, appeared upon the scene. + +"Miss Bunny, dear, what brings you here at such an hour? And law but +you are dressed queer! But, indeed, them Frenchies are little good +with their new-fangled ways. It's nurse that used to dress you +smart, deary, and as for Sophie, she beats all;" and the good woman +held up her hands in dismay at the child's untidy appearance. + +"Oh, Sophie didn't dress me at all!" cried Bunny. "She doesn't even +know I'm up, for she's fast asleep. But I was so tired lying there +listening to Sophie snoring that I thought I would get up and go +out. I want to take my pony a piece of bread, so please give me some +for him and some for myself, Mrs. Brown, for I'm very hungry." + +"Bless your heart, of course I will," cried the good-natured woman, +as she unlocked the door, and cutting two large slices of bread and +butter, handed them to the little girl. + +"Oh, thank you," said Bunny; "Frisk will like this, I am sure. Good +morning, Mrs. Brown, and mind you don't tell Sophie where I am, if +she comes to look for me." + +"Don't be afraid, deary, I won't give her any news of you. I don't +admire her and her stuck-up French airs, so she won't get much out +of me." + +But Bunny did not wait to hear the end of the good woman's speech +against poor Sophie; she had got all she wanted, so away she ran to +pay her morning visit to her little pony. + +When Frisk heard the stable door opening and a footstep approaching +his stall, he whisked his tail and twisted his head as well as he +could, to see who was coming to visit him at such an early hour. And +when he found it was his little mistress, and heard her voice at his +ear he neighed with delight, and rubbed his velvety nose up and down +her frock. + +"Dear old Frisk," she cried, patting his neck, "there's a little +cousin coming all the way from India to stay with us. Sophie is not +glad, but I am, and Miss Kerr is, and you must be glad too, old man. +And he's not black at all, Frisk, oh, no, and it is very, very silly +of you to think so, sir. You must be good to him, dear little pony, +and give him nice rides, and then he'll love you, just as I do, and +we'll all be friends together. So now eat this, little Frisk," she +continued, and breaking off a piece of the bread, she held it up to +the pony's nose. + +But suddenly Bunny gave a little shriek, and drew her hand quickly +away; for without intending it, Frisk had actually bitten his kind +little mistress. The bread she offered him was so small, and his +mouth was so big, that the child's fingers got rather far in among +his teeth, and when Frisk's white grinders came down upon the dainty +offered him, they met rather sharply upon poor Bunny's thumb. The +skin was slightly cut, and as a little stream of blood ran down her +finger the child grew frightened and began to cry. + +"Oh, Frisk, Frisk, why did you bite? I never thought you would do +such a thing," she cried reproachfully. "I never, never knew you do +such a thing before;" and sinking down on the straw by his side, she +tried to stop the blood by rolling her finger tightly up in the +corner of her pinafore. "Just when I wanted to tell the new cousin +that you were a good, kind pony, you go and bite me--oh dear, oh +dear, I am very sorry, Frisk, I am indeed." + +But in spite of the little girl's sorrowful lecture, Frisk did not +in the least know that he had done anything wrong, and poking his +soft nose into Bunny's lap, he carried off the remaining piece of +bread and ate it with much relish. + +"You artful old thing," cried Bunny, delighted with his cleverness, +and smiling through her tears, "if you hadn't bit me I'd have said +you were the best and dearest little pony alive;" and forgetting her +anger at him for hurting her, she jumped up and patted and kissed +his soft silky nose. + +"Where is Mademoiselle Bunny? Ah! that child will be the death of +me. Jean, have you seen Meess Bunny anywhere about?" cried Sophie, +just outside the stable door; and the little girl knew that her hour +was come and that she was going to get a good scolding. + +"Oh, Miss Bunny is in there, talking to Frisk, Mamzelle Sophie," +answered the groom. + +"Little naughty one! Ah, these English children are so dreadful!" +cried Sophie, and in a moment Bunny was dragged out from her seat on +the straw and carried away to the nursery. + +"Oh!" she screamed as soon as they were inside the door, "what is +that I see on your dress, mademoiselle? Blood, I declare! Oh, what +will your mama say? She will send away that beast of a pony I am +sure, and then you will not make such early walks to the stable." + +"Oh, Sophie, Sophie, don't tell! don't tell!" cried Bunny, "Frisk +did not mean to hurt me I am sure, and it's nearly well now. Look, +it has stopped bleeding already, so don't tell mama, pray don't," +and the little girl raised her eyes full of tears to the maid's +face. + +"Well, I won't tell if you will promise me never to slip out of your +bed and away out of the house again as you have done just now." + +"Oh, I never will, I never will, Sophie!" cried Bunny, "but do say +you won't tell. I couldn't bear to see Frisk sent away." + +"Well, well, don't cry any more," said Sophie good-naturedly. "Be a +good enfant, and I will say not anything about it." + +"Oh! you dear, darling Sophie, I'll be so good, so good!" cried the +little girl, "I'll be so good that you'll never have to scold me any +more." + +"Ma foi, what a change that will be!" cried Sophie, "if you get so +good as all that I will send for the doctor." + +"For the doctor!" exclaimed Bunny in surprise. "Why would you send +for him?" + +"Good gracious, mademoiselle, because I will surely think you are +ill if you get to be an angel like that; but I am very certain I +shall have to scold you many times before this evening comes." + +"Very likely, Sophie, but still I'm good now," said Bunny with a +merry little laugh, and as the maid gave the last touch to her +hair, the last pull to her sash, she ran out of the nursery and away +to her mama with whom she always had her breakfast. + +Bunny was in a wild state of excitement all that day, and Sophie and +Miss Kerr found it very hard to keep her in order and prevent her +disturbing her mama, who was not well, and could not bear much +noise. + +"Oh, dear, how long the day is! How long the day is!" she cried over +and over again. "I don't think evening will ever come, Miss Kerr, I +don't, indeed." + +"It will come fast enough, Bunny dear, if you will only have +patience. Try and forget that you are expecting anything to happen." + +"I wish I could! I wish I could! But I do so wish to see what Mervyn +is like." + +"You impatient little goose, do try and think of something else and +time will go over much faster. But I tell you what, Bun," said Miss +Kerr, when they had finished their early dinner, "we will go and +take a good run on the sands and that will pass the afternoon very +nicely for us." + +"But they might come when we are away, and that would be dreadful." + +"No, they won't, because they can't," said Miss Kerr with a smile. +"The train does not come in until seven, and it is only three now, +so you see we have plenty of time for a nice walk." + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER IV. + +BUNNY GETS A FRIGHT. + + +"Do be quick, Sophie," cried Bunny as she rushed into the nursery +after her walk upon the sands, "Miss Kerr says it is half-past five, +and papa and Mervyn will be here at seven, so do be quick and dress +me as fast as ever you can, for I want to be down in the hall, ready +to jump out at them the minute they come to the door." + +"Indeed," said Sophie without moving from her chair at the window. +"What haste we are in, certainly. But you may just keep still, Miss +Bunny, for I am not going to touch you for one half hour. What is +the use for me to dress you now, when long before seven you would be +so black as a sweep again, I know." + +"Oh, what a bother!" cried Bunny, stamping her foot and flinging her +pretty white hat upon the floor. "You are a nasty thing, and I wish +you had not come to be my maid at all, for you never do anything I +ask you to do. I wish dear old nurse was back with me again, she +used to be so nice, and always did whatever I wanted." + +"Old nurse was an old silly," answered Sophie, stitching away at her +work. "She neg-lect you and make you so naughty, and it is for me to +keep you in order and make you good." + +"Well, I won't be kept in order, and I won't be made good--not one +bit," cried Bunny bursting into tears. "It's very unkind of you not +to dress me in time to see my papa, and he'll be very angry with +you." + +[Illustration: BUNNY WELCOMES HER FATHER.] + +"Come, Miss Bunny, don't be a silly baby," said Sophie, "I'll dress +you soon enough, do not fear that. You had so much best go and make +tidy that doll's house, for the little cousin will be ashamed to see +it in so much of disorder." + +"I don't want to tidy my doll's house, and I don't care whether +Mervyn likes it or not, not a bit!" said Bunny, and taking off one +little glove she threw it into the very furthest corner of the room, +and then rolling the other into a ball she threw it at Sophie's head +as she sat bending over her work. + +But the maid did not take the slightest notice of the young lady, +and without another word went quietly on with her sewing. + +When Bunny saw that Sophie was really determined not to dress her +for some time, she sat down on the floor in silence, and leaning her +head up against the side of her crib, kicked about for some minutes +in a very ill-tempered way indeed. After a while she grew tired of +this conduct, which to her great surprise did not seem to make +Sophie the least bit angry, and not knowing what to do with herself +she sat staring about the room with a very sulky expression on her +little face. + +But by degrees the tears dried up, the cross look disappeared, and +jumping suddenly to her feet, she trotted off to the other end of +the room. Pulling open the wide door of the doll's house, she set to +work very industriously to put it in order. + +She brushed the carpets, dusted the chairs, shook out the dolls' +dresses and set them out in the drawing-room as if they were waiting +to receive their visitors. + +"Now it's tidy, Sophie," she cried with a bright little smile. +"Mervyn will think it a very nice doll's house. Won't he?" + +"Yes, my dear enfant, I am sure he will," said Sophie kindly, "and +now as you have been good and quiet for so long, I will begin to +dress you if you like." + +"Oh, that is a dear good Sophie. I am so afraid that I shall not be +ready when papa comes." + +"You will be ready, never fear," said Sophie, and taking off the +child's frock, she began to wash her face and hands. + +"You hurt, Sophie, you hurt," cried Bunny pettishly, as the maid +combed out her long fair hair. + +"Bah, no I don't hurt you, mademoiselle, except when you pull your +head aside. But in truth it is hard to comb your hair properly when +you move and fidget about. You are very difficult to manage to-day." + +"I tell you, you do hurt me--you pull as hard as anything," cried +Bunny growing very red. + +"Very well, miss, if you are in such humour," cried Sophie, "you may +just stand there till you get back to your temper again. I'm going +into the next room to get your frock, and I hope that when I come +back you will be quiet and let me dress your hair like a little +lady," and the maid flounced out of the nursery, leaving Bunny +standing before the glass in her short white petticoat, with one +shoe off and the other on, her hair hanging in disorder about her +shoulders, and her face puckered up in dismay at Sophie's sudden and +unexpected departure. + +"Oh, why was I so cross about my hair?" she cried. "Papa and Mervyn +will be here directly, and just look at the state I am in. What +shall I do? What shall I do? Sophie, I'll be good. Do come back, and +get me ready to go down." + +But Sophie did not answer, nor did she return, and poor Bunny sat +down on the edge of her crib, and in spite of all the efforts she +made to keep them back, the big tears rolled slowly down her +cheeks. + +Suddenly the sound of wheels was heard upon the gravel below, and +brushing away her tears, the little girl started to her feet and ran +over to the window. + +A cab covered with luggage was coming in at the big gate, and in a +minute she saw her papa nodding gaily up to his little Bunny, with a +bright well-pleased smile upon his dear face. + +Without a moment's thought as to the state she was in, or of what +her papa or the little boy from India might think of her in such a +condition, Bunny dropped the blind, and with a joyful cry of "Papa, +papa, my own dear papa," she rushed out of the nursery and away down +the stairs. + +"My little darling! My sweet little Bun," exclaimed Mr. Dashwood, as +the small wild-looking figure came running along the hall and jumped +into his arms. "Why, dear, why did you come out of the nursery +before you were dressed?" he said, as he smoothed back the ruffled +hair and kissed the hot cheeks of the excited child. "You are in a +strange state to receive visitors, Bunny dear, and I am afraid +cousin Mervyn will be shocked at my wild girl, for he is a very +tidy little man, I can tell you. Mervyn, this is your cousin Ethel, +commonly called Bunny, I hope you will be very good friends," and he +put out his hand to a pale gentle-looking boy of about seven years +old, who was clinging shyly to the skirts of an Indian Ayah, as +though afraid to let her go from beside him for an instant. + +When Bunny raised her head from her papa's shoulder to look at her +new cousin, her eyes suddenly lighted upon the grinning black face +of the strange foreign-looking woman, and with one wild yell of +terror she turned away, and buried her little face in her father's +coat. + +"Oh, send that dreadful thing away!" she cried, "I'm not half so +naughty as I used to be! And I have promised Miss Kerr to be so +good! Oh, papa, papa, don't give your little Bunny to that dreadful +black woman." + +"My darling, that is Mervyn's nurse, and he loves her very dearly. +See how he clings to her and begs her to stay with him! Just look +how kind she is to him!" + +"Oh, no, no, papa, she's a bogie, I am sure," cried the child, +clinging to him more nervously than ever. "Sophie always tells me a +bogie will come for me if I am naughty, and I was naughty just now +because Sophie pulled my hair, and I was cross, and cried and +stamped my foot and--" + +"My poor foolish little girl, she is not a bogie, but a good kind +woman--her face is black, but she can't help that. It was very wrong +of Sophie to frighten you about bogies, very wrong--there is no such +thing in the world." + +"Ah, monsieur, monsieur, I'm so sorry Meess Bunny has been so +naughty to run down to you in such a state," cried Sophie running +into the hall with a very angry look on her face. "I just left her +for a minute to get her frock, and when I came back she was gone." + +"Oh, Sophie, Sophie, don't scold me, please," cried Bunny, "I'll go +back to the nursery, and let you dress me now. Oh, take me away +quick, for if I see that dreadful face, I shall scream again, I know +I shall;" and with one little hand over her eyes that she might not +see the terrible creature again, Bunny flung herself into Sophie's +arms and was carried off upstairs to have her toilet completed for +dinner. + +"Poor little monkey!" said Mr. Dashwood laughing, "I never thought +she would be so easily frightened. Ashton, take the nurse down to +the housekeeper's room, and tell the servants to look after her, and +give her her dinner. Come, Mervyn, my little man, I want to take you +to see your aunt." + +"Yes, uncle," answered the little boy in a shy nervous voice, and +looking up into the Ayah's face to see what she wished him to do. + +"Go at once," she said in Hindustanee, and then Mervyn went up to +his uncle, and putting his little hand into his, allowed him to lead +him down the passage to the drawing-room. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER V. + +THE LITTLE INDIAN. + + +Mrs Dashwood lay on the sofa in the drawing-room, and Miss Kerr sat +beside her reading aloud. + +The two children, Bunny and Mervyn, were seated side by side upon a +large white woolly rug in the bow-window, and they whispered +together in very low tones lest they should disturb the ladies by +their noise. + +Bunny was nursing a pretty black kitten, with a red ribbon round its +neck, whilst Mervyn sat with his little hands clasped over his +knees, looking out at the blue sparkling sea, with a well-pleased +expression on his thin pale face. + +"What a lovely cool place England is!" he whispered; "it feels so +comfortable and nice here, and that sea is so beautiful to look +at." + +"Yes, to look at," answered Bunny, nodding her head; "but, oh! +Mervyn, wouldn't you feel afraid to go into it, and have your face +stuck right under the water, and held there till you had no breath, +and--" + +"Oh, that would be horrible!" cried Mervyn with a frightened look; +"my papa would be angry if I were put into the sea in that way. Oh! +I will write and tell him if--" + +"Well, I know he wrote to say that bathing would be very good for +you," said Bunny, "and mama told Miss Kerr this very morning she was +sure it would be. But I tell you, Mervyn, it's only Sophie that is +so rough and nasty. One day I went to bathe with Miss Kerr, and it +was lovely! She told me when she was going to dip me, and she let me +play at the edge, and I took dolly in and I dipped her, and it was +such fun." + +"Well, then, I will ask Miss Kerr always to bathe me," replied +Mervyn; "I should die, I am sure, if I were pushed under the water +and could not get my breath." + +"Oh! I was often and often pushed down that way by Sophie, and I +didn't die at all; but I kicked and screamed most dreadfully," cried +Bunny; "but then, mama says I am very strong, and Sophie said last +night that you were a misserble creature, so thin and white." + +"Sophie is very rude!" exclaimed Mervyn with a slight flush; "I am +not a miserable creature; I can't help being white; everyone is in +India, because it's so hot." + +"That is funny!" cried the little girl, "for Sophie said all Indians +were black, and I thought you would have a little black face like +Pussy here, only Miss Kerr told me you would be as white as me; but +you're whiter, much whiter," and she laid her small plump pink hand +on Mervyn's thin white one. + +"I don't like your Sophie," cried Mervyn impatiently; "she talks in +such a queer way, and she's not half so nice as my dear old Indian +nurse. I do wish she had been able to stay in England with me." + +"Oh, I think she was a horrid fright!" cried Bunny, "with her nasty +black face and her dreadful flappy wild dress, and I'm sure nobody +could understand a word she said." + +"I could," said Mervyn with a sigh, "and I liked talking Hindustanee +much better than English." + +"But it sounds so silly!" cried Bunny; "I think it's a great pity +people shouldn't always speak English everywhere, for that would be +so plain and easy." + +"Well, I would much rather everyone would speak Hindustanee, for +that would be much nicer." + +"Oh, dear! I don't think so," said Bunny; "and I think you speak +English very well." + +"Do you?" said Mervyn, smiling; "papa did not; and do you know, I +can't always think of the right words for things." + +"Oh! just ask me and I will tell you," replied Bunny jauntily, "for +I never have to think for my words at all." + +"Bunny, dear," said Mrs. Dashwood from her sofa, "I think you have +nursed that kitten quite long enough; the poor little thing looks +very tired. Put it into its basket like a good child." + +"Very well, mama," answered Bunny, and, jumping up, she ran over to +a corner of the room where stood a pretty round basket, which was +always used as a snug bed for Miss Puss. + +Bunny dropped her pet gently in upon the soft cushion, and after +much stroking and tucking up, she stole away on tip-toe to her +mother's side. + +But Pussy was in a playful mood, and as soon as the little girl's +back was turned she sprang lightly out of her bed and went +scampering gaily round the room. + +"Naughty, naughty puss!" cried Bunny laughing, and off she went in +pursuit of the runaway. + +"Bunny, dear Bunny, I can't bear that noise," cried Mrs. Dashwood, +as her little daughter tumbled over a footstool and knocked down a +chair. "I can't bear it indeed, dear child, so I think you had +better go out. Sophie will take you for a walk, as I want Miss Kerr +to read to me." + +"Oh, mama! I like Miss Kerr much better than Sophie," cried Bunny, +"and so does Mervyn. Do let Miss Kerr come." + +"But, Bunny, dear," said Miss Kerr, "you would not like poor mama +to have no one to read to her, would you? It is so dull for her all +day on the sofa by herself. You would not ask me to leave her, would +you?" + +"Oh! no, no, dear, darling mama, I will not ask Miss Kerr to come, +not for a minute!" cried Bunny as, kneeling beside the sofa, she +threw her arms round her mother's neck and kissed her vehemently. "I +could not bear to think of you being lonely, mamey dear. But do let +us stay here now, and go out in the afternoon with Miss Kerr. Mervyn +can't bear Sophie." + +"I am sorry for that, my little man," said Mrs. Dashwood, drawing +the boy towards her; "Sophie is sharp and quick, but she is very +good-natured, I think, so I hope you will try and like her." + +"Oh! yes, aunt," answered Mervyn, flushing, "I only meant that I +would rather have my own dear nurse, and that I was very sorry she +had been sent away to India again." + +"She was not sent away, dear," answered Mrs. Dashwood; "she went by +her own wish. She was fond of you, Mervyn, but she did not like to +live in England, so she hurried back to India as soon as she could. +It will be better for you to learn English well, and try to pick up +a little French from Sophie, than to be always talking with an +Indian, my child. But the first thing you have to do, Mervyn, is to +get fat and rosy like Bunny here. And you must grow tall, dear boy, +for you are very, very small for your age; you must grow as fast as +you can or this little girl will soon be the tallest," and Mrs. +Dashwood pinched her daughter's plump cheek. + +"Oh! but mama, dear, he can't make himself grow," remarked Bunny, as +she stood up to measure herself with her cousin. "He has not got a +key to wind up the works of himself, so he must just wait small till +he begins to grow big." + +"You are sharp enough, Miss Pert," said her mother, laughing. "I +wish you would learn to be more steady and to remember what is said +to you." + +"Oh! I can remember," cried Bunny gaily; "I've got a splendid +memory, haven't I, Miss Kerr?" + +"Yes, I think you have, dear," said Miss Kerr gravely; "but I am +afraid you do not always remember at the right time. Eh! Bunny?" + +"No, I don't," said the little girl, hanging her head; "I quite +forgot when I got up and went to feed Frisk. But I don't think God +minded that much; it was not much harm." + +"God is always displeased at disobedience, Bunny," said Mrs. +Dashwood very seriously. "The first thing God expects of a little +child is that she should be obedient, and so my Bunny must try and +remember things that she is not allowed to do, and then be very +careful not to do them." + +"Yes, mama, I will try," said Bunny in a subdued voice. + +"That is right, dear, and I hope little Mervyn will do the same." + +"Yes, aunt, I will indeed; papa told me to be very good until he +came home, and I mean to be," he said, drawing himself up in a +determined manner. + +"Well, then, I am sure you will do Bunny good and help her to +remember. But now run away like good children and tell Sophie to +take you out for a walk. It is a lovely morning, and a run on the +sands will give you an appetite for your dinner." + +"Very well, mama," cried Bunny gaily, and away she darted out of the +room singing and shouting at the top of her voice. + +"Good morning, aunt," said Mervyn gently, and he followed his little +cousin in a slow dignified manner, turning quietly to shut the +drawing-room door behind him. + +"What a harum-scarum that Bunny is!" said Mrs. Dashwood with a sigh. +"It is very hard to make an impression on her." + +"Yes, it is certainly, at least for more than a few minutes at a +time," answered Miss Kerr; "she is always so ready to be good, no +matter what she has done, that it is not easy to scold her much. But +she is a good-hearted child, and I am sure in a short time you will +see a great change in her." + +"I hope so, indeed," said Mrs. Dashwood, "for she is a constant +worry at present and extremely hard to manage." + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER VI. + +BUNNY FORGETS AGAIN. + + +Out of the gate and down the road went the two little cousins hand +in hand, whilst close behind them walked Sophie, holding up a big +umbrella, and carrying a yellow-covered novel under her arm. + +On they went; the little ones laughing and talking pleasantly +together, until they came to the entrance of the Spa, a gay +promenade which the fashionables of the place were in the habit of +frequenting in the morning to inhale the sea breezes, listen to +sweet music and meet their friends. + +Sophie liked the Spa, for there she saw much to delight and amuse +her, whilst on the sands she always felt dull and weary. + +But Bunny's ideas and those of her maid were not at all the same, +for the little girl loved the sands, and could spend hours there +digging and building castles of all shapes and sizes. Every day +there was an angry dispute between the nurse and child as to where +they should spend their time between breakfast and dinner; sometimes +one came off victorious and sometimes the other. This morning, as +usual, Bunny was quite determined to go on the sands, and Sophie was +equally resolved to go down to the Spa. + +"Mama said we were to go on the sands, Sophie, and I hate that old +Spa," cried Bunny, making a rush towards the steps that led down to +the sands; "I've got my spade, and so has Mervyn, and it's very +unkind of you not to come there when it looks so nice and we both +want to go." + +"You'll just please to come where I tell you, mademoiselle," said +Sophie, making a dive at the little girl, and dragging her through +the turnstile and on to the bridge that led into the Cliff grounds. + +"Don't you think you go to play any of your bad tricks on me. It is +enough difficult minding two of you in here without running all +over the sands for you." + +"Never mind, Bunny," said Mervyn gently, as they walked along +together, "Miss Kerr will come on the sands with us after dinner, +perhaps, and then we will have fine fun." + +"Yes, indeed," answered the little girl with a toss of her head, and +speaking in a loud voice so that the maid might hear her; "Miss Kerr +always does what I ask her to do, but Sophie is a regular +cross-patch." + +"Sit down here, mademoiselle, and try to behave like a lady," cried +Sophie, as she seated herself upon a bench at the top of the cliff, +overlooking the promenade and sea. + +"Oh, I don't want to sit down, I want to walk," cried Bunny +tearfully; "why, we have just come out." + +"Of course you want to do exactly what I tell you not to do," said +Sophie angrily; "sit down, both of you, when I tell you," and she +lifted first one and then the other, and placed them very roughly +upon the bench. + +In a few minutes a friend of Sophie's approached them, and after +some pressing she took a seat beside the maid, and the two children +were pushed away by themselves to the other end of the bench. + +"How long an age it is since I've seen you, Kitty!" cried Sophie, +smiling pleasantly upon the new-comer. + +"Yes, it is a long time," answered her friend, "and I've lots of +news for you. I've heard of a place--but it might be dangerous to +say much just now," and she glanced at the children. + +"Oh, they will not pay attention," cried Sophie, "but it's easy to +get rid of them if you like. Meess Bunny, you can run and play up +and down for a little with your cousin. But do not go very far." + +"That is nice!" exclaimed Bunny gaily; "thank you, Sophie, very +much," and jumping off the seat, she took Mervyn by the hand and +dragged him away for a race down the hill. + +"What is that, Bunny? What is that?" cried Mervyn suddenly, and he +pointed his finger towards the far end of the Spa. "It's like a +train, at least one carriage of a train, and it's running so fast up +the side of the cliff, and, oh dear! I declare there is another one +just the same coming down past it." + +"That is the lift, Mervyn; doesn't it look very funny hanging all +down like that? Do you know, I went in it once with papa and it was +lovely. It went along so smooth and so fast." + +"I would like so much to go in it," said Mervyn, "I wonder if uncle +will take me some day." + +"Yes, I am sure he will, and me too," cried Bunny, skipping gaily +along. "But I tell you what, Mervyn, wouldn't it be fun to go off +now, all by ourselves." + +"Now!" exclaimed Mervyn in surprise, "and what would Sophie say?" + +"Oh, she will never know," said Bunny. "We'll go up in the lift and +run down those paths among the trees ever so fast, and get back to +her before she knows we have gone away at all. She always has so +much to say to that friend of hers." + +"Yes, but don't you have to pay to go up in the lift?" asked Mervyn, +"and I have no money. Have you?" + +"Of course we must pay, but it's only a penny each, I know," +answered Bunny, "and I have got twopence in my pocket that papa +gave me this morning. I was going to give it to Miss Kerr, but I +won't now." + +"To Miss Kerr! Why should you give her your money?" + +"Oh, that's a secret of mine. But I don't mind telling you, Mervyn, +only you must not tell anyone, will you now? Promise you won't, like +a good boy." + +"I promise," answered Mervyn earnestly; "I would not tell anyone for +the world." + +"Well, one day Miss Kerr lent me three pennies to give to a poor +boy, and I said I would pay her back very soon." + +"Then I would not spend the pennies," said Mervyn decidedly; "keep +them, Bunny, and give them to Miss Kerr when we go home." + +"Oh, no; I would much rather go in the lift," cried Bunny. "Miss +Kerr won't mind, for she said I need not be in a hurry to pay it." + +"Still I think it would be better," began Mervyn solemnly, "to pay +Miss--" + +"Oh, bother! Never mind thinking, but come along, or we will not +have time to go up in the lift before Sophie wants to go home for +her dinner." + +"I should like to go up in it very much," said Mervyn weakly, and +casting longing looks at the distant lift, "but, indeed, Bunny--" + +"Oh, you are silly!" cried the little girl. "Come on quick or we +sha'n't have time," and grasping his hand, she hurried him down the +steps, with just one backward glance to make sure that Sophie was +still safe upon her bench. The maid's face was turned away towards +her friend, who seemed to be telling a very interesting story; they +were both completely occupied and quite unaware of what was going on +about them. + +"We shall have plenty of time!" said Bunny growing bold at the sight +of the back of Sophie's head. "So come along, Mervyn, and see what +the lift is like." + +There was a great crowd of ladies and gentlemen walking up and down +the promenade, and it took the children a long time to make their +way as far as the band-stand, and even then they were at some +distance from the wonderful lift that had attracted the little +stranger so much. + +As they hurried along, pushing their way right and left through the +people, the band began to play the "Blue Danube Waltzes," and +Mervyn stopped short in delight. + +"Oh, what a lovely waltz!" he cried. "Bunny dear, do let us stay +here and listen to it. I'd much rather hear the music than go up in +the lift, I would, indeed." + +"Oh! no, no," cried Bunny, "I'm tired of that old band, it's a +stupid old thing! We can come and listen to it to-morrow if you +like; but do come on now, you can't think how nice it is flying up +the cliff in the lift; besides, I am quite sure that we sha'n't get +a chance to go another day." + +"Oh, very well, if you want to go so much; but really, Bunny, I +would far rather stay and hear the music," said Mervyn, "I would +indeed." + +"Bother the music! Do come, like a good boy," cried the little girl +impatiently, and catching him by the hand she dragged him away +through the gate that led to the lift. + +There was a great crowd of people of all kinds waiting to go up in +the lift, for it was getting near luncheon hour at the hotels, and +many were anxious to be in good time for that pleasant meal. + +Our little friends, Bunny and Mervyn, were so small that they were a +good deal knocked about by the crowd, and the lift went off several +times before they managed to push themselves anywhere near the +front. At last the conductor noticed the two mites, and stepping +forward in a kindly way, he took them by the hand, helped them into +the carriage, and seating them side by side, remarked with a smile: + +"You're a funny pair to be sure! Where is your nurse?" + +"She's on the Spa, at least on a bench just at the top of the +steps," said Bunny gaily as she arranged her short skirts about her +on the seat. "My cousin is a stranger here, so I have brought him to +see what the lift is like." + +"Indeed!" said the man with a laugh. "What a kind little lady you +are to be sure;" and then, as the carriage was full, he banged the +door and away they went. + +"Isn't it nice, Mervyn? Aren't you glad I brought you?" asked Bunny +in a patronizing tone. "It is much nicer in here than sitting up on +that bench. Isn't it?" + +"Yes, I suppose it is," answered Mervyn doubtfully, "but oh, Bunny, +I don't much like it! I have a sort of feeling as if I were in a +ship, and it makes me giddy to look out--indeed it does." + +"Don't look out then," said Bunny decisively. "But really, Mervyn, I +think it's lovely--it's so--Oh, dear what is that?" she cried in +alarm, as with a harsh grating noise the lift they were in, came to +a sudden stand-still, and the descending one shot quickly past them. + +"Something gone wrong, I expect," grumbled an old gentleman beside +her; "ah, they have to let us go down again! What an awful +nuisance!" + +"Oh, please, sir, is there going to be an accident?" cried Bunny in +a voice of terror, and growing very pale. "My cousin is just come +from India, and I am sure he will be frightened," and she put her +little arm round Mervyn as if to protect him from danger. + +"No, no, there is not going to be any accident, my little girl," +answered the old gentleman with a kind smile. "Don't be afraid, +we'll go up again in a minute; but I must say the small cousin from +India doesn't look half so much frightened as you do," and he patted +her on the back. "There, now, off we go, you see, and we'll be at +the top in a minute." + +"Oh, I am so glad we are out of that horrid thing! and, Bunny, I am +sure we should never have gone into it," cried Mervyn, as they at +last stepped out of the lift and ran quickly along the cliff towards +the entrance to the Spa grounds. "Just think, there might have been +an accident and we might have been killed! Oh, it would have been so +dreadful if such a thing had happened." + +"Yes, it would," answered Bunny, "and Sophie will be angry, for we +have been away such a long time. And oh, Mervyn, now I remember, +mama told me that I should never leave my nurse when I was out with +her, and I quite forgot, and there, I have been disobedient again! I +am so sorry." + +"Oh, Bunny, Bunny! why don't you try and remember?" cried Mervyn +reproachfully, "and we promised aunt to be so good just before we +came out," and tears of sorrow stood in the little boy's eyes. + +"Never mind, Mervyn, dear," said Bunny kissing him, "it was my +fault. Don't cry--you were not naughty at all. It was all because I +forgot again. Oh, dear, I am afraid Miss Kerr will be angry with me. +But come along quick, there is Sophie. See, she is looking about +everywhere for us." + +The two children trotted along at a brisk pace down the steep +winding path that led through the pretty ornamental grounds with +which the cliff, overhanging the Spa, was tastefully laid out. The +trees were high and shady, so the little creatures were not visible +from below as they ran quickly on their way. But soon they came to a +part where there was not even a bush to hide them from view, and as +Sophie walked up and down in despair, her eyes wandering about +wildly in every direction, she suddenly caught sight of Bunny's +white hat and blue sash, and with a shriek of rage, she bounded up +the path, and taking hold of them by the shoulders shook them +angrily as she cried in a hoarse voice: + +"Ah, you wicked bad ones, I thought you were lost! I thought the +kidnappers had taken you away for ever." + +"Oh, we are too big for that!" cried Bunny, "and you need not be in +such a rage, Sophie, we only went up in the lift, as Mervyn wanted +to see what it was like;" and she walked past the maid with a +scornful toss of her little head. + +"I am very sorry, Sophie, indeed I am," said Mervyn gently; "I did +not know we had so far to go. I am sorry you thought we were lost." + +"Ah! much I care whether you are sorry or not," cried the angry +maid. "It will be like Mademoiselle Bunny's sorrow--it will last one +minute--and then off to some more naughty things," and with a push +and a slap Sophie drove the two children on before her, over the +bridge and away home to Holly Lodge. + +"And now," she cried as they reached the hall door, "I will march +you both up to Miss Kerr, and see what she will do with you. Some +punishment should be given to you, and I don't know what to do." + +"Oh, very well!" said Bunny, "we'll go and tell Miss Kerr ourselves. +You need not come with us, we don't want you at all. Come along, +Mervyn;" and taking the little boy by the hand, she dragged him up +the stairs after her. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER VII. + +IN MISS KERR'S ROOM. + + +When the two children reached Miss Kerr's bed-room, they found the +door shut, and feeling quite certain that she was there, they +knocked gently, and then stood very still upon the mat, expecting +every moment to hear her voice calling to them to go in. + +"Dear Miss Kerr," said Bunny at last, as, growing impatient at the +delay, she put her little mouth to the key-hole and tried very hard +to make herself heard within the room, "Mervyn and I want to tell +you something, so please, please, open the door and let us in." + +But to her surprise she received no answer, and becoming more and +more cross and impatient, she rattled the handle as noisily as +possible in order to attract Miss Kerr's attention. + +"I can't make out why she doesn't speak to us," said Mervyn in a +whisper. "I think she must be asleep." + +"Asleep!" exclaimed Bunny indignantly. "She isn't a baby, and she +isn't ill, so why should she be asleep at this time of the day?" + +"Well, in India people sleep in the day when they're not a bit ill, +just because it's hot--so why shouldn't they here?" + +"What a lot of sillies they must be in India then!" cried Bunny +contemptuously. "Why, I have not been asleep in the day for +years--not since I was quite small," and she rattled away more +noisily than ever at the door-handle. + +"Miss Kerr is not there, children," said a housemaid who passed +along the passage at that moment, "she has been in the drawing-room +all the morning." + +"Has she?" said Bunny, "oh, then, I tell you what, Mervyn, we'll +just go in and wait for her. She will be sure to come up in a few +minutes to wash her hands before dinner, and then we'll tell her." + +"Oh, but there is Sophie calling to us to get ready ourselves. She +will be awfully angry if we don't go," said Mervyn. "Listen how she +is screaming." + +"Never mind her, the nasty, cross old thing!" cried Bunny, opening +the bed-room door. "Come in, Mervyn, come in! There is Sophie--do be +quick, or she will catch us and drag us off with her--and then +she'll tell Miss Kerr before we do. Come in, come in," and once more +she hurried her cousin along with her, against his own will and +inclination. + +"But, Bunny, I do think we ought to go to Sophie, I do indeed," said +Mervyn; "listen, she is asking the housemaid if she has seen us +anywhere. And oh, she is coming here to look for us--she will be +awfully cross! Do let us go into the nursery quietly and take off +our things and get ready for dinner." + +"Well, you are a silly, Mervyn! That would spoil all the fun. But I +know what I'll do--I'll lock the door, and then Sophie will not be +able to get us. I can easily open it for Miss Kerr when she comes +up," cried Bunny; and before Mervyn could say a word to prevent +her, the little girl turned the key in the lock, and, clapping her +hands with delight, danced up and down the room singing at the top +of her voice: + + "What a good plan! What a good plan! + And the dinner is in the frying pan!" + +"Indeed, then I wish it was here," grumbled Mervyn, "I'm awfully +hungry, and it would be much better to go down to dinner now, and +tell Miss Kerr afterwards, or at dinner-time, Bunny, indeed it +would." + +"Yes, and let Sophie hear her scolding us," cried the little girl. +"I am hungry too, I can tell you, Mervyn; but Miss Kerr won't be +long, I am sure. Hasn't she got a pretty room? and doesn't the sea +and the bridge look nice from the window?" + +"Well enough," answered Mervyn crossly, as he rolled about in +an arm-chair that stood away in the furthest corner. "But oh, +it is silly to be sticking up here when the dinner is ready +down-stairs--oh, I smell it, and it does smell nice! and I am so +hungry, and it's very stupid of you to keep me shut up here." + +"Well, I thought you were sorry and wanted to tell Miss Kerr so," +said Bunny complacently, as she shook out her frock and admired +herself in the long glass. "It's very greedy to talk so much about +your dinner." + +"Is it?" grumbled Mervyn. "Well, I don't care! I'm sure you're just +as bad twisting about and looking at yourself in the glass, for +that's being vain, and I'd rather be greedy than vain, so I would, +Bunny." + +"Would you? Oh, that's because you're a boy. Boys are greedy, but +it's vulgar to be greedy--Sophie says it is, but it's different to +be vain, I--" + +"Mademoiselle Bunny, come out this minute. Ah, what a little naughty +one you are! and that cousin of yours he is a wicked bad boy--he +leads you into the mischiefs of all kinds. Come out, I say, the +dinner is ready and Miss Kerr is waiting for you;" and Sophie +rattled the handle and hammered at the door till the whole passage +was filled with the noise and the other servants came running from +all parts of the house to see what could be the matter. + +"What is wrong, Sophie?" asked Miss Kerr, as she too hurried +upstairs wondering what was going on in the corridor. "Why are you +making such a dreadful noise?" + +"Ah! ma foi! Noise, Miss Kerr! What can I do but make a noise, when +those two children have locked themselves into your room, and will +not come out for their dinner. Is it then a wonder that I make a +noise?" and she began once more to bang the door as if she would +like to break it in. + +"That was Miss Kerr's voice, Bunny," whispered Mervyn; "do open the +door and let us go out to her now." + +"Is it really? I only heard Sophie. Miss Kerr," she called, "are you +there?" + +"Yes, Bunny, I am here. Come out, child, come to your dinner. You +must be starving, both of you." + +"Yes, we are," answered Bunny, "and we will go out if you will send +Sophie away. Mervyn and I want to tell you something." + +"Ah! what a naughty child!" cried Sophie. "Meess Kerr, they have +both been so very difficult, so wicked! They have run away, they +have gone in the lift, they have just escaped being seized by +kidnappers and--" + +"That's a great story, Sophie," cried Bunny through the door, "for +there was not a single kidnapper near us; was there, Mervyn?" + +"No, there wasn't," said Mervyn, "not one, Sophie, there wasn't +really." + +"Now!" shouted Bunny triumphantly, "you see you are quite wrong, +Sophie." + +"Open the door, Bunny, this minute," said Miss Kerr decidedly, "I am +surprised that you should behave in such a naughty way, just when I +thought you were going to be a good girl." + +"I'll open it now, indeed I will," cried Bunny, "and please, please +don't be angry with us. We are so sorry we ran away from Sophie, +indeed we are, and that is the reason we came up here, just to tell +you so." + +All the time the child was talking she was also working away at the +key, trying her very best to open the door. But no matter how she +turned or pulled it, round it would not go, and at last, hot and +tired with so many violent efforts, she begged Mervyn to try if he +could make it turn. + +"No, Bunny, I can't," said the boy sadly, after working patiently +at the key for some time. "It's no use, I can't do it at all." + +"Oh dear, oh dear!" cried Bunny in a miserable voice, "what shall we +do? Miss Kerr, dear, we can't open the door, it's locked quite +fast." + +"Take the key out of the lock and push it under the door, and I will +try and open it from this side," said Miss Kerr; "it was really very +naughty of you to lock yourselves up in such a way. But be quick and +give me the key." + +After a good deal of pulling and tugging, Bunny at last managed to +get the key out of the lock, and kneeling on the floor she tried +with all the strength of her tiny hands to push it out under the +door. + +But the key was too large or the door fitted too closely, and the +little girl gave a cry of alarm as she found that it was quite +impossible to get it out into the passage. + +"Oh, Mervyn, dear, it won't go out! Oh! Miss Kerr, what shall we +do?" she cried, bursting into tears; "if we can't open the door what +shall we do?" + +"And I am so hungry," said Mervyn in a doleful tone. "How nasty it +will be to be stuck in here for ever! Oh, pray open the door! Oh! +pray open the door, Miss Kerr." + +"Throw the key out of the window, Bunny," said Miss Kerr, "and I +will go round and pick it up, and let you out in a minute." + +"Oh! the window is shut. The window is shut," cried the two children +in despair, "and we cannot reach to open it. What shall we do? What +shall we do?" + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed Miss Kerr, "who can have shut the +window?" + +"I am sorry to say I did, miss," said the housemaid. "The wind was +so strong upon the window that was open, that I shut it, intending +to open the middle one, but I forgot all about it when I was leaving +the room." + +"It is extremely awkward, and has helped to give the poor children a +great fright," said Miss Kerr. "Go and bring me the keys of all the +doors, Sarah, and I will try if any of them will fit the lock. Don't +be uneasy, Bunny; don't cry, little Mervyn. We will get you out some +way or other, you may be quite sure, so don't be afraid. I have sent +for some keys to try if they will open the door, so don't fret. Ah! +here they are." + +One after the other the keys were taken and tried, but not one was +of the slightest use. One was too large, and another too small, and +Miss Kerr felt really grieved for the poor little prisoners, whose +sobs were distinctly heard through the door. + +"What can I do?" she said. "It is really very hard on them to be +shut in there for such a long, long time! And they are so hungry +too." + +"Send for a man to pick the lock, miss," said Sarah. "Ashton will +get some one from one of the shops." + +"But that will take such a time!" cried Miss Kerr; "it is a long way +to the town, and the children want their dinner so badly. No, I must +think of some quicker plan than that. Ah, now I know one!" she +exclaimed with a sudden smile; "it is a pity, but it can't be +helped! Bunny, dear, will you take the poker, break a pane of glass +with it, and throw the key out upon the grass. Be very careful not +to cut your fingers." + +"I'll do it!" cried Mervyn, jumping up out of the chair, where he +had been rolling about disconsolately. "I'd just like to break a +window, and I'm taller than you, Bunny; do let me, like a good +girl." + +"No, no; Miss Kerr told me to do it," cried Bunny, "and I should +like to break a pane too;" and seizing the poker she sent it crash +through the glass. + +"Oh, what fun! What a rare smash!" exclaimed Mervyn in delight. "I +will throw the key out;" and he darted across the room, picked up +the key, and flung it with all his strength at the window. + +But he did not aim straight, and instead of flying into the garden +the key merely shattered the glass a little more, and fell back +again on to the floor. + +"You stupid boy! What a bad shot!" cried Bunny, and taking it up +between her finger and thumb she stepped on a chair, and dropped it +down cleverly upon the grass, just at Miss Kerr's feet. + +"That is right," said the governess with a smile, as she stooped to +pick up the key; "and now don't you think it would be a good +punishment for all your naughtiness to keep you both locked up +there for the rest of the afternoon?" + +"Oh, no, no, pray do not do that, Miss Kerr, we are so sorry and so +hungry!" and the two little faces, as they were pressed against the +window, looked so utterly miserable and woebegone, that the +kind-hearted governess could not bear to carry out her threat of +punishment, but hurried away as fast as possible to let the poor +children out. + +When the door was at last opened and they were told to come forth, +Mervyn hung back and did not dare to raise his eyes to Miss Kerr's +face. Bunny, on the contrary, greeted her with a cry of joy, and +springing into her arms, kissed her heartily over and over again. + +"I'm so glad to get out! I'm so glad to get out! Oh, I was afraid we +should have to stay in here all day by ourselves." + +"Well, I hope this will be a lesson to you never to shut yourself +into a room again, Bunny," said Miss Kerr severely. "It was a very +foolish thing to do, and I cannot say that I am very sorry that you +got a little fright, for I really think you deserved to suffer +something for your naughtiness. But tell me, little man," she said +to Mervyn, "are you not glad to get out too? You don't look so +cheerful over it as Bunny does." + +"I am very glad to get out. But I--I--wanted to tell you," he said +with much difficulty, and clasping his little hands tightly +together. "I want--to tell you--that I am very sorry I was +disobedient and ran away from Sophie." + +"I am glad to hear you say you are sorry, dear," answered Miss Kerr. +"I am sure you mean it Mervyn, and that I may trust you not to be +disobedient again." + +"Yes, you may trust me, indeed you may," the boy cried with a bright +smile, "I will really try to be good, and make Bunny remember if I +can." + +"Naughty little Bun! Why do you always forget as you do?" said Miss +Kerr gently. "I did think you were going to be good to-day, and just +see how you have disappointed me!" + +"I'm very sorry," murmured Bunny, hanging her head. "I did want to +be good, and I promise you I won't be naughty again. I'll always +stay as close up to Sophie as ever I can when we go out, I will +indeed." + +"Very well, then, I will not say any more about the matter. Run away +now, like good children, and get ready for dinner. And Bunny, dear, +if Sophie is a little cross, be gentle and polite with her, for you +have tormented and tried her temper very much, you know." + +"Oh, I will be ever so nice and kind to her, dear, dear Miss Kerr," +cried Bunny as she gave the governess a bear-like hug and another +loving kiss. "I'll be awfully polite;" and laughing merrily she +jumped off her perch on Miss Kerr's knee, and ran down the passage +to the nursery, waving her hat and singing at the top of her voice. + +"Poor little giddy-pate!" said Miss Kerr with a sigh. "I wonder how +long she will keep all those splendid promises. But why don't you go +off and get ready for dinner too, Mervyn?" she asked in surprise as +she saw the little boy lingering at the door in a shy uncertain +manner. "Run along, dear, at once." + +"Will you--give me a kiss?" said Mervyn with a deep blush. "I want +to know that you have really forgiven me." + +"Of course I have, dear boy," answered Miss Kerr, and she put her +arm round him and kissed him affectionately. "I have quite forgiven +you, Mervyn, and I feel sure that you are going to be a very good +boy." + +"I am going to try very hard to be good," replied the boy solemnly, +"and as Bunny is so small perhaps I may make her do the same." + +"Very likely, Mervyn, dear, for good example is sure to have a +strong effect upon little Bunny, who is more thoughtless than really +naughty. But run off now, dear, and get your hands washed as quickly +as possible. The dinner will not be fit to eat if we keep it waiting +any longer." + +"That is true," said Mervyn with a bright happy smile. "We have kept +it waiting a dreadfully long time, and we are all just dying with +hunger, I'm sure;" and he too went off singing to the nursery. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BUNNY TRIES TO SHOW OFF. + + +For some time after this there was a marked improvement in little +Bunny's behaviour, and everyone in the house was delighted with the +change, and rejoiced over it in a very open manner. + +"It is perfectly wonderful!" said Mrs. Dashwood; "our little +troublesome is becoming quite a well-behaved young person. I feel +very grateful to you, Miss Kerr, for I believe it is all owing to +your tender care and kind good-nature that the child is improving so +much." + +"I don't think I have so much to do with the change as little +Mervyn," answered Miss Kerr with a smile. "I have lectured poor +Bunny very often, it is true, but I think a good obedient little +friend does a child more real good than all the scoldings and +lectures in the world." + +"Yes, I daresay it is an excellent thing," replied Mrs. Dashwood; +"but still I think your lectures and sermons have improved my poor +darling a great deal. She was very ignorant when you came to look +after her." + +"Yes, she was," said Miss Kerr; "she did not know much, poor child, +and what was worse, did not care to learn anything. But lately she +has begun to get on very nicely. And there, again, you see it is +Mervyn who has done her good, for her whole ambition is to do +everything better than he does it." + +"The little rogue!" exclaimed Mrs. Dashwood laughing. "Well, it is a +good thing to have found a way to make her work. Where is she now, I +wonder?" + +"Mr. Dashwood took her off with him to the stables. Mervyn went too, +as it seems there is a pleasant surprise awaiting them there. They +both went off laden with bread for Frisk." + +"I think I can guess what the surprise is," said Mrs. Dashwood with +a smile; "I--" + +"Oh, mama, mama! we are glad! we are glad!" cried Bunny bursting +suddenly into the room, followed by Mervyn with a radiant look of +happiness on his little white face. "What do you think? Guess what +has happened. Just guess what papa has given Mervyn." + +"Dear aunt, it was so kind of uncle to buy me such a--" + +"Let her guess--let her guess, Mervyn. Don't tell her what he bought +you. Miss Kerr, what did papa buy for him? Something living, +something with a tail, something with a nose, a dear velvety nose +and a soft silky coat," cried Bunny, as she danced up and down the +drawing-room in high glee. + +"A kitten," said Miss Kerr gravely. + +"A kitten! oh, the idea!" exclaimed Bunny, "as if people bought +kittens." + +"Something far nicer!" said Mervyn in a voice full of pleasure. +"I'll tell her, Bunny, something to ride--" + +"No, no, don't tell, don't tell!" cried the little girl, laying her +hand quickly over his mouth. "Mama, guess, guess." + +"A pony, Bun, a little brown pony," said Mrs. Dashwood, smiling +brightly upon the eager excited children. + +"You dear clever mamey, that's just what it is," exclaimed Bunny, +giving her mother an affectionate hug. "And Mervyn's so pleased, and +I am so glad, and oh, it will be so nice going out to ride +together!" and jumping up sideways on the arm of the sofa the little +girl began to work herself about as if she were really on Frisk's +back and trotting along a country road. + +"My dear Bunny, please don't," cried Mrs. Dashwood, as she felt the +sofa upon which she was lying, shaken up and down by the child's +vigorous antics. "Please don't, dear, you hurt me very much." + +"Oh, I am so sorry!" cried Bunny bounding quickly down from her +perch, and holding her face up for a pardoning kiss. "But won't it +be nice, mama? Frisk is so glad to have a friend in the stable with +him, and it will be fun for me to have Mervyn to ride with." + +"Yes, it will be very nice, dear. But, Bunny, you talk so much that +Mervyn never gets saying a word. Tell me, my dear, do you really +like your pony?" + +"Oh, yes, aunt, I am delighted with him, he is so pretty. It was +very good of uncle to buy him for me." + +"And you will not be afraid to ride him, I hope," she said with a +smile. + +"No, I think not, at least not if we go along quietly. But Bunny +says she will make Frisk go awfully fast, and then my pony will run +after him, and that she is sure I shall be frightened and hold on by +the mane and--" + +"Bunny, Bunny, you must not say such naughty things," cried Mrs. +Dashwood shaking her finger at the mischievous child. "But don't +mind her, Mervyn. She does not ride at all so splendidly herself. +The groom or her papa always holds Frisk by a leading rein, so it +would be quite impossible for her to go on as fast as she likes; so +do not mind her." + +"Oh, I don't feel a bit afraid if some one holds my pony by a rein," +said Mervyn bravely; "not one bit; I think it will be lovely riding +along together." + +"That is right," said Mrs. Dashwood. "I am sure you will be a clever +horseman, for your papa was when he was a boy." + +"And so he is now, aunt. He has a beautiful horse, and he looks +splendid on it when he goes off to ride," cried Mervyn, smiling +brightly at the recollection; "I used to think he looked grander +than any of the other officers." + +"Poor little man," said his aunt gently, as she smoothed back the +hair from his brow. "You are very fond of your papa, Mervyn, and do +you know, I think you will be like him when you grow big and +strong." + +"I want to be like him in every way," said Mervyn, "and I mean to be +an officer when I grow up." + +"And go away to that nasty, hot India," cried Bunny; "oh, I'd be so +lonely if you went away again--please don't, Mervyn, please don't." + +"What is Mervyn not to do, my little woman?" asked Mr. Dashwood, who +entered the room at this moment. + +"He's not to go back to India again, because I should be so lonely +without him," cried Bunny catching hold of her papa's hand and +laying her little cheek against it; "you won't let him go, papa, +will you, dear?" + +"No, indeed, I couldn't think of such a thing. But I am sure he +won't want to go when he hears that his papa is coming home for +Christmas; eh, my boy?" + +"That is good news, uncle," cried Mervyn joyfully; "I never thought +he would come so soon. Not much fear of my wanting to go to India +when he comes home." + +"So I thought," said Mr. Dashwood. "And now, children, when are we +to have our first ride?" + +"Now, now; to-day, to-day," cried Bunny; "dear papa, let us go off +at once!" + +"Very well, my dear. I thought you would like to go soon, so I told +John to get the ponies and horses ready in half an hour. You had +better run and get on your habit--that is, if Miss Kerr will let you +both off with your afternoon lessons. What do you think, Miss Kerr, +do they deserve a ride?" + +"Yes, I think they do, for they have both been very good," answered +the governess with a smile; "besides, I really don't think they +look studiously inclined--they are very much excited." + +"I couldn't learn a lesson if I tried ever so," cried Bunny, "I +really couldn't, so I am glad you are going to let us off. Good-bye, +Miss Kerr; good-bye, mama I sha'n't be long, papa, dear;" and away +she flew in breathless haste to the nursery. + +Sophie had received a message informing her that her young lady was +going out for a ride, and when Bunny went up to be dressed she found +her pretty brown habit and neat felt hat laid all ready for her on +the bed. + +"That is a dear good Sophie," she cried, and she was in such good +humour that she allowed the maid to brush her hair and put on her +habit without uttering a single cross word or complaint. + +"Thank you very much, that will do nicely," she said politely, as +Sophie put the last finishing touch to her curls; then taking her +little whip with the pretty silver top from the maid's hand, she +gathered up her skirts and ran quickly down to the hall-door. + +"What a pleasure it is to dress her when she is so good and polite +as that!" said Sophie to herself as she watched the little figure +running away from her down the passage. "What a pity it is that +children are so often naughty and troublesome!" + +When Bunny arrived in the hall she found her papa and Mervyn quite +ready to start for their ride. + +"Oh, how nice Brownie looks!" cried the little girl in delight, as +her cousin was lifted on to his new pony; "but I don't think he is +as handsome as you, old Frisk. Is he, papa?" + +"I don't know, I am sure, dear," answered her papa, laughing; "but I +suppose you like Frisk best because he is your own." + +"Yes, I suppose I do," said Bunny, and placing her little foot on +her papa's hand she sprang nimbly to her saddle. "Good-bye, Miss +Kerr, good-bye." + +Mr. Dashwood mounted his horse, the groom jumped on his, and the +whole party rode gaily up the avenue and out of the gate. + +"I declare Mervyn sits very well, papa," said Bunny in a patronizing +manner, as she looked back at her cousin, who was following them +with the servant. + +"Yes, of course he sits well; why shouldn't he?" asked Mr. Dashwood; +"he wants a few lessons and then he will ride very well, I am sure." + +"Yes, I daresay," said Bunny; "but he never rode before, you know, +except just little short rides on Frisk, and he'd be awfully afraid +to go without the leading rein, I know." + +"Yes, and quite right too," said her father; "it's only children who +ride very well who should be allowed to go without a leading rein, +and especially on a country road. Supposing the pony took it into +his head to bolt--what do you think would happen then?" + +"Oh, he could be pulled up quite tight by his rein. I wouldn't be a +bit afraid to ride all by myself." + +"Wouldn't you, indeed, Miss Vanity. Well, I would rather not trust +you," said Mr. Dashwood laughing; "I think it is very likely you +would find Master Frisk rather too much for you without a leading +rein, my dear child." + +"No, I shouldn't," answered Bunny, bending over her pony and patting +his neck; "Frisk and I are such friends he would be sure to do what +I told him. Wouldn't you, Friskie?" + +"Don't trust him or your own power too much, Miss Bunny," replied +her father with a smile. "But who is that coming down the road +towards us? I think I ought to know him." + +"Why, papa, it's Mr. Davis, that nice old gentleman who gave me the +box of sweets; don't you remember? I'm sure it is." + +"Yes, so it is," said Mr. Dashwood; "what sharp eyes you have, +little woman! You and Mervyn had better ride on with John, as I want +to say a word to Mr. Davis." + +"Very well, papa, but don't be long, pray," said the little girl; +"it's so much nicer talking to you than to John." + +"No, I sha'n't be very long, dear. Good morning, Mr. Davis," said +Mr. Dashwood to a tall fine-looking old gentleman who at this moment +rode up to them on a beautiful chestnut horse; "I am very glad to +see you. This little girl of mine knew you a long way off." + +"Ha! Miss Bunny and I are great friends," answered Mr. Davis with a +smile, as he bent forward to shake her warmly by the hand. + +"Those pretty eyes of yours are a deal sharper than mine, my dear, +for I had not the faintest idea who it was that was coming along the +road. But I am glad I met you, Dashwood, as I want to say a few +words to you about--" and he lowered his voice to a whisper. + +"Very well," said Mr. Dashwood; "I'll send these little people on +with the groom, and ride down the road a short way with you. John," +he called to the servant, "take Miss Bunny's rein and go on up the +hill with the children, turn in at Lady Edith's Drive, and I will +overtake you in a few minutes." + +"Yes, sir," said the groom, touching his hat respectfully, and +riding forward he took the rein from his master's hand. + +"Ride quietly along and I will be back to you very soon, Bunny," +said Mr. Dashwood, and then he turned his horse round and walked it +leisurely down the road again with Mr. Davis. + +"Oh, what a pretty place!" cried Mervyn, as the riding party trotted +along through a gate and into a cool shady avenue, with tall stately +trees growing closely together on every side. + +"This is Lady Edith's Drive," said Bunny; "I think it is the +prettiest place about Scarborough. It is so cool and pleasant, and +then it is so quiet." + +"Why is it called Lady Edith's Drive?" asked Mervyn. + +"I don't know," answered Bunny. "Do you, John?" + +"Well, no, Miss," said John; "I can't exactly say as I do. I suppose +some Lady Edith used to drive here very often." + +"I suppose so, indeed," said Bunny, laughing merrily at this +explanation. + +"I don't think that tells us much, John," said Mervyn; "anyone might +know that." + +"Yes, sir, very likely, sir," replied the groom; "but I never asks +no questions. If I'm told a place is called by a name, I never asks +why or wherefore, but just takes it as the name that it's to be +called by." + +"Well, I think you are very foolish then," said Mervyn; "I like +asking questions, and it's a very good way to learn about things, I +can tell you." + +"I daresay it is, sir, for a young gentleman like you, sir. But you +see the people about me don't know no more nor I do, so what's the +use of asking them what's this an' what's that, an' showin' them I +don't know nothin' myself." + +"I never thought of that," said Mervyn, "but I don't think it +matters about showing that you don't know. Miss Kerr says no one +should be ashamed to ask a question about a thing they don't +understand." + +"John, John," cried Bunny suddenly as she pulled very hard at the +leading rein in order to attract the groom's attention, "I want to +ask you something. Stoop down that I may whisper it into your ear." + +The man did as she requested; but when he had heard what she wanted +him to do he shook his head in a very determined manner, saying, "I +couldn't on no account, Miss. Your pa would be as angry as +anything." + +"No, he wouldn't, John. I told him I could manage Frisk myself, and +he only laughed. Do let me--just for a few minutes. I'll go along +quite quietly, you'll see I will. I want to show Mervyn that I can +ride better than he does, and that I am not afraid to go without a +leading rein." + +"Well, it's very quiet here, so I suppose it could not be much +harm," said the man, yielding a little at her pleading voice; "I +really don't think it could be any harm;" and he turned in his +saddle and looked carefully up and down the drive. + +"Harm!" exclaimed Bunny, "of course it could do no harm. Oh! pray +take off the rein, John," and she looked up into his face in a most +imploring manner. + +"Well, you are a funny little lady, to be sure," he answered with a +good-natured laugh, and, bending forward, he unfastened the leading +rein and put it into his pocket. + +"Thank you, John," said the child, sitting up proudly on her pony. +"It feels ever so much nicer without it; it's so silly to be always +led along by a rein like a baby. Mervyn, I am riding all by myself. +Wouldn't you like to ride without a leading rein?" she shouted +across at her cousin, who was trotting along quietly at the other +side of the groom; "it's twice as nice to feel that you can go just +as you like." + +"I feel just as nice as I am, Bunny, thank you," said Mervyn; "I +would rather have the rein, thank you." + +"I can't hear what you say, so I think I'll go round beside you, +Mervyn," she cried gaily; and, raising her whip, she brought it down +heavily upon poor Frisk's back, and tried to make him go round +beside Brownie. But Frisk was not accustomed to such treatment, and +tossed his head and whisked up his tail, but absolutely refused to +go to the other side of John's horse, no matter what she did to him. + +"You naughty pony," she cried, "you must do what I tell you," and +she tugged violently at his mouth, and gave him another sharp blow +with her whip. This was more than the pony could bear; and before +his little mistress knew where she was, he pricked up his ears, and +with an angry toss of his head galloped away down the road as fast +as he could. + +"Stop, Miss Bunny, for goodness sake stop," shouted the groom; "you +must not go so fast; come back here at once." + +[Illustration: FRANCIS SAVES BUNNY.] + +"I can't stop--I can't!" shrieked the little girl in a voice of +terror. "Oh! he's running away--he's running away;" and, completely +overcome with fright, poor Bunny dropped her reins, and, catching +hold of the pony's mane, held on to him with all her strength. + +"What a fool I was to let her go!" cried the groom; "what on earth +will my master say to me? Goodness, the silly child has let go her +reins; she'll be off--she'll be off;" and, spurring up his horse, he +rode after the runaway, hoping to overtake him and put a stop to his +mad race. + +But the noise of the horses as they clattered down the road after +him seemed only to excite Master Frisk, and on he went faster than +ever. + +As the pony reached the end of the drive, and poor little Bunny had +become so weak and faint from terror that she was in great danger of +being thrown to the ground, a young lad of about sixteen jumped up +from the grass where he had been seated, and, dashing forward, +seized Frisk by the head and brought him to a sudden stand-still. + +"Poor little girl," said the boy kindly, as he lifted Bunny from her +saddle and laid her gently on the grass. "What a fright you have +had! How did this beggar come to run away? He looks quiet enough." + +"I whipped him," answered Bunny in a shaky voice; "and oh! I thought +I was going to fall," and she put her hand to her head as if she +still felt giddy. + +"You were certainly very nearly off," said the boy; "but what a fool +that groom of yours was to let a kid like you ride without a leading +rein; he shouldn't have done such a thing." + +"Oh! but I begged him so hard that he let me go," said Bunny; "he +didn't want to let me, and--" + +"Miss Bunny, I'm ashamed of you," cried John, riding up beside her. +"You promised you'd ride quite quiet beside me, and you broke your +word. I'm very thankful to you, sir, I'm sure," he continued, +turning to the young stranger. "In another minute this little lady +might have been thrown on her head and been killed on the spot." + +"Oh, dear! oh, dear! it wasn't my fault," cried Bunny, bursting into +tears; "I only mean't to go round beside Mervyn, and Frisk ran away +and--" + +"Don't cry, dear," said the strange lad kindly; "you must not say +another word to her, my man," he continued, turning to the groom; +"she is rather shaken with her fright, and it's best to leave her +alone. Take hold of this pony and I will go and get your young lady +some fresh water; that will do her good." + +"Very well, sir," said John, pulling the leading rein once more from +his pocket, and fastening it on to Frisk's bridle with an angry +jerk. "It's not my place to scold, Miss Bunny, but a young lady +should keep her word, and not get a servant into trouble." + +"But I didn't mean to break my word, John, indeed I didn't," sobbed +Bunny. "Oh! why did papa leave us? oh, dear! oh, dear!" + +"Drink this, you poor little mite," said her new friend as he held a +flask full of fresh water to her lips. "It will do you ever so much +good. I will bathe your face for you, and then you will see how +comfortable you will feel, but you must not cry any more." + +"Thank you so much," said Bunny, drinking off the water; "it is very +cool and nice." + +"Yes," the boy answered, "it is very refreshing, but this will do +you more good, I am sure;" and, removing her hat, he took a +neatly-folded, perfectly clean handkerchief from his pocket, shook +it out, and, dipping it into the water, bathed the child's face as +tenderly as a girl might have done. + +"You are very kind," said Bunny, as she raised her big blue eyes to +his face; "you are a nice good boy," and she raised her face to give +him a kiss. + +"That's right," he said smiling; "you are beginning to look more +cheerful," and, stooping, he kissed her gently on the forehead. + +At this moment the sound of horses' feet was heard coming along the +road, and Mr. Dashwood soon appeared, riding quickly towards them. + +"What is the matter?" he cried in alarm, as, drawing up sharply, he +sprang from his horse and rushed to his little girl's side. + +"Oh! papa, papa!" cried the child, running into her father's arms, +"your poor Bunny was nearly killed, only this nice boy stopped Frisk +and took me off his back." + +"My poor darling!" cried Mr. Dashwood, lifting her gently from the +ground, and smoothing back her ruffled hair, "I am very thankful to +God that you are not hurt. Thank you, too, my lad, for your kind +and ready assistance," he said to the young stranger, grasping him +warmly by the hand, "and now tell me, sir," he cried with a stern +look, as he turned to the groom, "how it is that the child whom I +left in your care came to be in such danger." + +"If you please, sir, Miss Bunny asked--" began John very nervously. + +"Yes, papa, I--it was all my fault," interrupted the little girl; +"don't scold John. I wanted to show Mervyn that I could ride better +than he does, and as I could not do so properly with John holding me +by the rein, I begged him to let me go, and I promised to ride +quietly; but I whipped Frisk, and he ran off so fast that I got +frightened, and--" + +"It was very wrong of you, John, to allow the child to ride without +a rein, and I am really angry and vexed that you should not have +taken more care of her when she was left in your charge." + +"Indeed, sir, I am very sorry, and it shall never happen again," +said John. + +"I hope not," said Mr. Dashwood; "and as for you, Bunny, I am very +much surprised that you should have been so naughty. You know I +told you you could not manage Frisk without a leading rein." + +"Yes, I know you did, dear papa," said Bunny, as she rubbed her +little face up and down against her father's cheek, "but don't scold +us any more. We are all very sorry, aren't we, John?" + +"Very, Miss," answered the groom; "I'd rather have died than let any +harm come to you, an' I hope master will forgive me for lettin' you +have your own way about the rein." + +"I forgive you this time, John," said Mr. Dashwood; "but remember +for the future you are to keep Miss Bunny well to your side when you +take her out to ride on her pony." + +"Yes, sir, surely I will," answered the man earnestly; "I will never +do what Miss Bunny asks me to do again, never while I live." + +"And now, my dear fellow," said Mr. Dashwood, turning to the young +stranger and shaking him once more by the hand, "I cannot tell you +how grateful I feel to you. May I be permitted to ask your name?" + +"My name is Francis Collins; but indeed I did not do much," the boy +answered modestly. + +"You have done me a very great service, Master Francis, and one that +I can never repay you," said Mr. Dashwood earnestly. "Do you live +anywhere about here?" + +"No, sir; I live in London," replied the lad; "my father is in India +with his regiment, and I am staying up here for a time with my +aunt." + +"Is your father a captain? and is he in India now?" asked Mervyn +shyly. + +"Yes, little man," answered young Collins with a smile, "he is a +captain in the 45th, and is now stationed at Jublepoore." + +"Why, Captain Collins is papa's great friend, and of course he was +my friend too; and Mrs. Collins was so good and kind to me. Oh, I +did love her so much!" cried Mervyn, looking up into the lad's face. +"Are you the Frank she used to talk to me about?" + +"Yes, I am the Frank, her only child," said the boy sadly; "poor +mother! it's a whole year and a half since I saw her last;" and +tears came into his eyes as he spoke. + +"I have often heard my brother-in-law speak of your father, my dear +boy, and I am very glad to have made your acquaintance," said Mr. +Dashwood as he seated his little daughter upon her pony. "Where are +you staying?" + +"I am living with my aunt at a quiet hotel on the West Cliff." + +"I am very glad to hear it," said Mr. Dashwood, "for you will be +able to come over and see us. Our name is Dashwood, and we are +staying at Holly Lodge, a house standing in its own grounds and +facing the sea, yonder on the South Cliff. Anyone will point it out +to you; so be sure and pay us a visit some day soon." + +"Yes, thank you, I certainly will," the boy replied with a bright +smile; "I must have a talk with this little chap, Mr. Dashwood, and +find out all I can about my father and mother from him. By the by I +suppose you are the Mervyn Hastings she told me she missed so much." + +"Yes, I am Mervyn Hastings; and oh, did she miss me?" cried the +little fellow eagerly. + +"Most dreadfully! And I don't wonder, for you seem to be a capital +little fellow," said Frank Collins, patting Mervyn on the shoulder. + +"Come over and lunch at the children's dinner to-morrow at two +o'clock, and then you and Mervyn can have a long talk together," +said Mr. Dashwood as he sprang to his horse. "It is rather late now, +so these youngsters must get home as quickly as they can. Remember +we shall all be delighted to see you, if you can spare time for +visiting." + +"Oh, do come, do come," said Mervyn, earnestly. + +"Mama will be so glad to see you," cried Bunny, "so do come, +please." + +"Thank you all very much," answered the lad brightly; "I will be +sure to be at Holly Lodge by two o'clock. Good-bye, Mr. Dashwood; +good-bye, Miss Bunny; good-bye, little Mervyn;" and Frank lifted his +hat politely as the riding party turned and rode away from him down +the drive towards Scarborough. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER IX. + +MISS KERR PROMISES A PRIZE. + + +The next morning was very wet, and as it was quite impossible for +the children to go out, Miss Kerr insisted on their going into the +library to learn their lessons. + +Bunny pouted and declared that her papa did not wish them to sit +still all day over their books, and that it would be much nicer to +run about the house and play at "Hide and seek." + +"Yes, it would be pleasanter for you, Bunny," said Miss Kerr, "but +you forget that 'Hide and seek' is a very noisy game, and that your +mama's head is aching so much that she could not bear the noise you +would be sure to make. Come now, be good children, and try to learn +your lessons as well as you possibly can." + +"I hate lessons! and so does Mervyn," cried the little girl in a +cross voice. "Don't you, Mervyn?" + +"No, I don't," answered the boy; "I will go if you like, Miss Kerr, +for I want to learn how to write soon, that I may be able to send +papa a letter." + +"You are a good boy, Mervyn," said the governess with a smile as she +took him by the hand, "and I promise you that I will soon let you +write a little letter to your papa. Come, Bun, dear, you are not +going to be naughty, I am sure. Come along and we'll have such a +nice quiet morning over our books;" and she held out her other hand +to the little girl. + +"Well, if I am good, will you read us a story after we have said our +lessons?" bargained Miss Bunny; "I just love to hear you read +stories." + +"Yes, I will read you a very nice story if you are good, and I have +a pretty box of chocolate here that I will give to the child who +studies the hardest and keeps silence the longest." + +"Oh, how nice! Oh, how jolly!" cried Bunny, clapping her hands in +delight. "I'll learn my lessons awfully hard;" and away she ran down +the passage to the library, pulled her spelling-book out of the +drawer, and perching herself on a chair at the table began to shout +out the words at the top of her voice. + +"My dear Bunny, how do you think Mervyn can learn his lessons if you +scream yours out in that way?" said Miss Kerr laughing; "repeat +those words quietly to yourself whilst I show your cousin what he is +to do." + +"I don't know very much, Miss Kerr," said Mervyn shyly as he took +the book from her hand; "papa says I am a dreadful dunce, but I only +began to learn last year." + +"Never mind that, my dear boy. If you give your attention to your +book and feel anxious to learn, you will soon get on. Spell over +these words for me and let me see what you can do." + +Mervyn did as he was told, and with much difficulty he managed to +spell down half a column of very easy words. + +"Oh, I can do better than that! I can do better than that!" cried +Bunny, wriggling about on her chair; "why, I could spell those words +in a minute. Listen--h-o-u-s-e, d-a-y, m-o-u-s-e." + +"Hush! Bunny, I cannot allow you to go on like that," said Miss Kerr +gravely; "you have learned those words over and over again, so of +course you know them well. Now, Mervyn, go and read them over by +yourself and I will hear you say them without the book in a few +minutes. Bunny, come and say your lesson." + +The little girl slipped off her chair and came slowly across the +room to Miss Kerr. + +"Be quick, Bun, stir yourself," cried the governess; "I want to hear +how beautifully you can spell words that you have never seen before; +come along." + +But Bunny still hung back with an obstinate look on her little face, +that showed plainly how very unwilling she was to do as she was +told. + +"Come, dear child, be quick, you are wasting all my time;" and Miss +Kerr held out her hand for the spelling-book. + +Bunny handed it to her, and then dragging one foot slowly after the +other, she at last stood by Miss Kerr's side. + +"Take your finger out of your mouth, Bunny," said the governess, as +she laid the book before the child and pointed to the place. "Now +begin, B--" + +"If you please, Miss Kerr," said Ashton, opening the door. "Mrs. +Dashwood wants to see you very particular, miss, in the +drawing-room. She said as she wouldn't keep you long, but you was to +go to her at once." + +"Very well, I will go now, Ashton," said Miss Kerr; "and now, +children, I hope you will be good while I am away. Bunny, you can go +over those words by yourself. See here is the box of chocolate. I +will put it in the middle of the table so that you may see what you +have to work for;" and placing a pretty cardboard box upon a pile of +books so that the children might see the gay picture on the lid, she +smiled kindly upon them both, and hurried out of the room. + +For a few moments after they were left alone the little people were +very silent and quiet; but soon Bunny raised her head, yawned +noisily, and pushing her book away began to amuse herself by looking +about the room. + +"I shall get the prize," said Mervyn, "you are not learning your +lesson, you know." + +"No more are you," cried Bunny; "I'll learn mine up in a minute when +Miss Kerr comes back, and you're as slow as an old snail at yours;" +and again she began to mimic his voice and manner of spelling. + +"You're very rude," cried Mervyn, getting red, "and I'll just tell +Miss Kerr when she comes back." + +"Tell-tale! tell-tale!" sang Bunny; "much I care! If I know my +lesson best I'll get the chocolate and I won't give you one bit." + +"You're a greedy thing! But you won't get it. I know my lesson +splendidly, and you don't know yours at all, so I am sure to get the +prize, I can tell you." + +"Ha, how grand you are, to be sure!" screamed Bunny, and stretching +out her hand she tried to pull the chocolate box towards her. + +"You sha'n't touch it! You sha'n't touch it!" shouted Mervyn; "it +isn't yours, so just leave it alone." + +"It isn't yours either," cried Bunny with flaming cheeks, and she +fastened her little fingers more firmly than ever round the box. + +"I am sure to get it, so I shall keep it beside me till Miss Kerr +comes back." + +"No, you sha'n't," answered Mervyn in an angry voice, and jumping up +on his chair he sprawled over the table and tried to drag the box +from Bunny's hand. + +"You nasty boy, let go! I'll tell Miss Kerr! I'll tell mama! You're +a coward! You're a horrid--" + +"Who's going to be tell-tale now?" shrieked the boy. "Give it to me, +I say, give it to me," and he gave a vigorous pull at the box. + +But the cardboard of which the chocolate box was composed was not +strong enough to stand such pulling, and before the naughty children +knew where they were it suddenly gave way and came to pieces in +their hands. The beautiful prize was completely destroyed, and its +whole contents were strewn all over the place. + +"Now, see what you have done!" cried Bunny, bursting into tears; +"you have broken the box--oh dear, oh dear, you cross, nasty, greedy +boy, I--" + +"I didn't do it," said Mervyn, but his voice was low and shaky, for +all his anger disappeared when he saw the pretty box torn to pieces +and the chocolate creams lying scattered about all over the table +and floor. + +"Yes, you did! If you hadn't pulled so hard it would have been all +right," said Bunny tearfully. "Oh, what will Miss Kerr say? I think +I'll run away to the nursery and hide. I shall be afraid to let her +see me--" + +"That would be cowardly," answered Mervyn; "I'm very sorry I pulled +the box, and I'll stay here and tell her so;" and he went down on +his knees and began to gather up the sweetmeats and put them into a +sheet of paper. + +"Don't eat any, Mervyn," said Bunny, "they look awfully nice, but--" + +"Eat them!" exclaimed the boy indignantly, "I should think not +indeed! I am not so mean as that; I wouldn't--" + +"Mean--is it mean?" cried Bunny, rubbing her mouth; "oh, I didn't +know, and I just took one--but Miss Kerr won't mind." + +"Well, you are nasty! You tell me not to eat them, and then you go +and take some yourself. Go away, I won't speak to you or be friends +with you any more; you're a mean--" + +"Oh, Mervyn, Mervyn, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" cried Bunny, +flinging herself on her knees beside her cousin. "I didn't want to +take the chocolate cream, but it looked so nice, and I just longed +to take it and--" + +"Children! what are you doing?" cried Miss Kerr in astonishment as +her eyes fell upon the two kneeling figures and she heard Bunny's +miserable tone of voice; "why are you on the floor? Come back to the +table at once." + +"Bunny," whispered Mervyn, "we must tell Miss Kerr now what we have +done;" and springing to his feet he caught the little girl by the +hand and dragged her over to the other side of the room, where the +governess had seated herself, ready to begin lessons again. + +"We have been very naughty," he began, looking down at the floor; +"we didn't learn our lessons--and--we--broke--the box--and spilt all +the chocolates--but we are very sorry, indeed we are," and he raised +his blue eyes full of tears to Miss Kerr's face. + +"Yes, we are very sorry--and--I eat a chocolate cream--but Mervyn +didn't because it was mean," cried Bunny, and then, overcome with +grief, she buried her face in her pinafore and sobbed aloud. + +"I cannot tell you how much surprised and shocked I feel at such +conduct," said Miss Kerr gravely. "I really thought I could trust +you for a few minutes alone. Mervyn, I am very much grieved to think +that you could behave in such a naughty way. Bunny is wild and +giddy, but I thought you were going to show her a good example, by +being good and gentle yourself." + +"Yes, and I wanted to," said Mervyn, "but she called me names and +then I got cross, and then--I--" + +"Yes, and I got cross too," cried Bunny, putting down her pinafore +for a minute. "I was angry and--" + +"And I am afraid you both forgot that God was looking at you, and +that he was greatly displeased at you for giving way to your wicked +passions in such a manner. How did you come to be so naughty? +Mervyn, what began it all?" + +The tears were rolling down the little boy's cheeks, but he dried +them with his handkerchief, and choking back those that were still +ready to flow, he tried to tell the story of the torn chocolate box +as well as he could. + +"Well, I am glad you have told me all about it," said Miss Kerr, +gently, "and as you both seem so sorry for your conduct, I suppose I +must forgive you. But remember, dear children, that you must tell +God that you are sorry, and ask him to forgive you. Pray to Him that +he may help you to overcome your tempers and become good, gentle +little children. I will not scold you any more, and you have +punished yourselves by breaking the box and spilling the sweetmeats, +for now I cannot allow you to have any of them." + +"Oh, I don't mind that!" cried Mervyn quickly. "If you will forgive +me for being naughty, I don't want any sweets." + +"I do forgive you, Mervyn, but don't forget what I told you. Say a +prayer to-night before you go to bed and ask God's forgiveness and +help." + +"Yes, I will, I will," cried the boy, "and I will try and be ever so +good all day to make up for being so naughty this morning." + +"And I'll be good too," said Bunny; "I am sorry you won't give us +any sweets, for they look so nice, but still I--" + +"You won't ask for any! That is right, dear. I know you like sweets, +Bun, but I must punish you a little, you know, so I can't give you +any to-day. Come, now, I forgive you both, so let us go back to our +lessons at once; and I hope you will do your best to show me that +you are truly sorry, by working very hard for the next two hours." + +"Yes, yes, we will, indeed," cried the children together, and off +they ran to get their books. + +"That is right! That looks like real work," said Miss Kerr, as she +wrapped up the chocolate creams in paper, and locked them away in a +drawer. "Come, Bunny, bring your book to me, dear." + +Bunny opened her spelling-book briskly, Mervyn began to read his +lesson attentively, and perfect peace reigned once more. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER X. + +ON OLIVER'S MOUNT. + + +The lessons were over about half-past one, and as they had been well +learned and quickly said, Miss Kerr was really pleased with the +children, and rewarded them for their industry and attention by +reading a pretty story, that interested and amused them very much. + +This kept them pleasantly occupied until nearly two o'clock, and +then they ran off to the nursery in high spirits, to get themselves +washed and dressed for their early dinner. + +"I am so sorry, Miss Kerr," said Bunny, as she took her seat at the +dinner-table, "I'm really dreadfully sorry that nice boy we saw +yesterday has not come to have lunch with us as he promised he +would." + +"Yes, dear, so am I, for I should like very much to see him," +answered Miss Kerr, "but I daresay the rain kept him from coming." + +"But it's not raining one drop now," said Mervyn, "and I declare, +there is the sun coming out; I do wish he would come." + +"Oh, but it's wet under-foot, Mervyn," remarked Bunny wisely, "and +it's a bad thing to get your feet wet--Sophie screams fearfully at +me if I put my toe out, even long after the rain has stopped." + +"Yes, when you go in your thin shoes, of course," cried Mervyn; "but +big boys like Frank Collins are not afraid of wetting their feet. +Are they, Miss Kerr?" + +"No, I don't think they are, dear," answered the governess, +laughing, "I know my brothers run out in all kinds of weather." + +"Come in, my boy! Here they are at their dinner," said Mr. Dashwood, +opening the door at this moment, and entering the room with young +Collins. "Miss Kerr, this is our young friend who so bravely saved +poor Bunny yesterday," he added as he presented Frank to the +governess. + +"I am very glad to see you, Master Collins, and these children have +been longing for you to come," said Miss Kerr; "it was very brave of +you to stop the pony." + +"Brave! not at all, Miss Kerr," answered Frank with a bright honest +smile that won the lady's heart at once. "I don't think the pony was +really running away, and if this little girl," and he patted Bunny +on the head, "had not been frightened, but had sat up properly and +kept a good hold of her reins, she would have been all right." + +"Oh! Bunny, Bunny, you little coward," cried Miss Kerr, "and so, +after all, it was you who held on by the mane, and not Mervyn, as +you so gaily told him he would do yesterday." + +"Did she tell him that?" asked Frank as he took a seat at the table +beside Mervyn. "Well, I think this little chap would be the bravest +of the two in real danger. He would not be so rash, perhaps, but I +think he would keep cool and not lose his head as she did." + +"Oh, but I was frightened," sighed Bunny. "I was sure Frisk was +running away;" and she looked so very tearful that her papa kindly +changed the conversation by asking his young guest how he liked +staying at Scarborough. + +"Are there many nice walks about?" asked Mr. Dashwood, when they had +all finished their lunch and were preparing to leave the table. "I +mean short walks within easy distance, where these little folks +could go, for instance?" + +"Yes, there's the old castle," said Frank, "on the West Cliff, then +there's the people's Park in the valley, which of course you all +know well, and Oliver's Mount, which I think the nicest walk of +any." + +"Oliver's Mount! Oh, that is a nice place," said Bunny, who had +quite recovered her gay spirits again. "Sophie says she went up +there one day with some friends, and she had buns and lemonade and +all kinds of things, in a little house, a funny small house, she +says, that is up there on the top. Do take us up Oliver's Mount, +like a dear good papa." + +"Yes, I know the little house Sophie means," said Frank; "it is only +a small shed, you can just see it from the window, look, there it +is, right away up on the top of the mount." + +"It looks a great height, certainly," said Mr. Dashwood. "I wonder +if these little ones could manage to go such a long way." + +"Oh! yes, we could, we could," cried the children together. + +"Very well, then, I suppose we had better set off at once," said Mr. +Dashwood; "you have no objection to my taking these small people, +Miss Kerr?" + +"Not the slightest," she replied. "I was going to send them with +Sophie, but I am sure they will enjoy going with you much better. +Mrs. Dashwood is not well enough to go out, so I intend to read to +her the best part of the afternoon." + +"I am glad to hear that, for I was afraid she might feel dull if we +set off for a long walk," said Mr. Dashwood. "Well, run away, +children, and get ready; the sooner we start the better." + +"It will be a long way for their little legs if we go right to the +top," said Frank doubtfully. "Mervyn doesn't look very strong, and +Bunny's legs are very short." + +"Indeed they are not," cried Bunny indignantly. "I can walk +splendidly; can't I, Miss Kerr?" + +"Yes, dear, you are a very good walker for your age and size." + +"There, do you hear that?" cried Bunny, jumping off her chair and +throwing her arms round her father's neck. "Do take us, do take us, +dear darling old papa." + +"You little rogue!" cried Mr. Dashwood, "I do believe you could coax +the birds off the bushes." + +"No, papa, indeed I couldn't," answered Bunny gravely; "I often +tried, but they would not come; and I tried to put salt on their +tails too, but they flew away and--" + +"You dear little goose, that was a great shame; they must have been +very rude birds indeed, my poor Bun," said Mr. Dashwood with a +hearty laugh at the child's simplicity. "You have coaxed me anyway, +dear. I will take you to Oliver's Mount; and I have thought of a +plan that will save your short legs and Mervyn's weak ones a good +deal." + +"A plan! Oh! what is it? you dear, darling papa," she cried +joyfully. + +"No, I won't tell you, little one. Run off and get dressed, and you +will see what it is when you come back. Away you go!--both of you. +Be quick, or Frank and I will not wait for you." + +Bunny and Mervyn were both very curious to know what this wonderful +plan of Mr. Dashwood's could be, and chattered away about it as they +were being dressed by Sophie. + +"To the top of Oliver's Mount!" cried the maid, holding up her hands +in astonishment when the children told her where they were going. +"Gracious! is it that monsieur your papa knows how far it is? You +will both be too tired to return home to-night." + +"Then we shall sleep in that little house at the top, among the buns +and the lemonade," said Mervyn. "That would be fine fun, wouldn't +it, Bunny?" + +"I don't know about that," replied the little girl. "But do not be +frightened, Sophie; papa has a fine plan, so we sha'n't be one bit +tired. Come on, Mervyn," and, laughing merrily, the two children ran +off together down-stairs. + +"Papa, papa! where is your plan?" cried Bunny, as they met her +father and young Collins in the hall. "We do so want to know what +your wonderful plan can be." + +"Here it is, then, my dear," said Mr. Dashwood, and he threw open +the door, and displayed two steady-looking old donkeys standing +ready saddled at the gate. "You are to ride one of those fellows, +and Mervyn the other. That is my plan; isn't it a good one?" + +"Capital! capital! What fun! what fun!" cried the children, clapping +their hands in delight. "But, papa, the donkeys will never go up the +mountain," exclaimed Bunny suddenly; "Sophie says there is a big +stile to get over, so how will they manage that?" + +"We won't ask them to go over the stile," said Frank Collins, as he +lifted the little girl and seated her comfortably on the saddle. + +"They will carry you up the road to the foot of the Mount, and then +we will leave them there to rest and eat some grass, while we go on +our rambles up to the top." + +"Wasn't it a capital plan of papa's, Mervyn, to get us these +donkeys?" asked Bunny, as she and her cousin jogged quietly along +the road on the steady old animals. "These are such nice +well-behaved creatures, and don't run away in a hurry like Master +Frisk." + +"No, I should think not," answered Mervyn laughing. "Why, just look +at this fellow," he cried as his donkey came to a sudden stand-still +in the middle of the road. "What can we do to make him go on? Here, +boy, please make him move a little," he shouted to the donkey-boy, +who was loitering behind talking to a comrade. + +"Hey up!" screamed the lad, running up quietly from behind, and +bringing his stick down heavily on the poor brute's back; "hey up, +Teddy!" and away trotted the donkey at a rapid pace up the hill. + +When Bunny's charger saw his companion starting off so gaily, he +pricked up his ears and followed him as fast as ever he could. + +"Your plan was a capital one, uncle," said Mervyn, as he and Bunny +jumped off their donkeys and prepared themselves to climb over the +stile and begin their walk up the mount together. + +"I suppose you feel as fresh as a couple of daisies, and not at all +shaken?" said Frank Collins. "Come along and we'll have a race to +the very top;" and away he ran nimbly up the side of the hill. + +Bunny and Mervyn struggled bravely after him, and they went so fast +that they soon left Mr. Dashwood behind them, for he declared that +he was too old to run, and that he would follow them at his leisure. + +The grass was very slippery after the rain, and the mount was very +steep, and so, although the children went as fast as their little +legs could carry them, yet they could not keep up with their young +friend, who soon appeared a long way above them, waving a +handkerchief, and cheering and shouting at the top of his voice. But +at last they all reached the highest part of the mount, and, puffing +and panting after their fearful exertions, they seated themselves +upon a bench and gazed about them in delight. + +"Isn't it jolly up here, Mr. Dashwood?" said Frank. "I think it +would be worth climbing ever so much higher to see such a sight, +don't you?" + +"Yes, indeed I do," answered Mr. Dashwood; "and the air is very +fine; it feels so fresh and strong. That is the old castle away over +there, I suppose." + +"Yes; and doesn't the old part of the town, with its queer red brick +houses and narrow streets, look pretty? And look at the bay in front +of it, with its ships and barges. Doesn't it all look lovely in the +sunlight?" + +"Yes, Frank, it does look pretty," cried Mervyn; "and isn't the sea +a beautiful blue colour?" + +"And don't our donkeys look funny little gray fellows, away down +there on the road?" cried Bunny. "Oh, dear! they do look far away." + +"Bunny would rather look at her donkey than all the beauties of the +country," said Mr. Dashwood with a smile, as he took his little girl +upon his knee. "But these youngsters must not be defrauded of their +cakes and lemonade, Frank. Would you mind going into that wonderful +shop to see if you can get some?" + +"Oh! they have lots of good things in there, I know," answered +Frank. "I hope you will be able to eat a good supply, Bunny?" + +"Yes, I feel able to eat several cakes," cried Bunny; "thank you, +dear papa, for thinking of them. I do love buns and lemonade. Don't +you, Mervyn?" + +"Yes, Bunny, very much," replied her cousin. + +"I am afraid I shall get scolded for letting you have them," said +Mr. Dashwood, as Frank appeared, carrying an armful of cakes and +buns, and followed by a man with glasses and bottles of lemonade. + +"If you eat all these you won't be able to take anything at tea, and +then Miss Kerr will be so dreadfully angry." + +"Oh! never mind, papa, dear," cried Bunny; "cakes and lemonade are +just as good as tea, but I will eat as much as ever I can when I go +home, and then no one will scold you." + +"That's a good, kind little woman," said her father laughing; "but +finish up those cakes now as fast as you can, for I want to get back +to the club for an hour before dinner." + +"I will just put this in my pocket for the donkey-boy, papa," said +the little girl, holding up a bun which she could not manage to eat; +"he was very good, and made the donkeys go so well." + +"I think we will go round by the road, Frank," said Mr. Dashwood, +rising from the bench; "it is not quite so steep as the mount, and +is very little longer." + +"Very well; I daresay it will be the best way to return; it will be +a variety anyway," said Frank. "Mervyn, will you walk with me? I +want to talk to you about India and all our friends there." + +"Yes, yes," said the little boy, "that is the very thing I should +like." + +"But our donkeys--oh! are we not going home on our donkeys?" cried +Bunny. + +"Of course we are, you little grumbler," said her father. "We are +only going to walk round by the road to them instead of tumbling +pell-mell down the hill again. Come along with me, and let these two +boys talk over their affairs together." + +Then, taking his little girl by the hand, Mr. Dashwood walked +quickly away with her down the hilly road. Frank and Mervyn +followed them slowly arm-in-arm, and the elder boy, with a look of +yearning love in his eyes, asked his small friend many anxious +questions about the dear father and mother whom he had not seen for +such a long time. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER XI. + +WAS IT CRUEL? + + +One lovely afternoon towards the end of September Mrs. Dashwood and +Miss Kerr sat together on the lawn in front of the house. They were +stitching away at some pretty clothes, that were evidently intended +for a large wax doll, with golden ringlets and blue eyes, that lay +on a table that stood between them on the grass. + +Mrs. Dashwood looked pale and delicate still, but there was a +well-pleased smile upon her sweet face as she sat enjoying the sea +breezes. She was comfortably propped up with pillows in a large +wicker chair, and her thin white fingers were busily engaged on her +dainty work. The fresh country air had done her great service, and +she was full of the hope that she should soon return quite strong +and well to town. + +Bunny lay curled up in another big chair, and although she knew very +well that the pretty doll was intended for her, she looked very +cross and did not seem to notice what was going on about her. + +"Why don't you go and play, Bunny?" said Miss Kerr looking up from +her work. "I do not like to see you tumbling about there with such a +cross look on your face. Go and get a book--or will you have a +needle and thread and try to do some sewing?" + +"No, thank you," answered Bunny, "I hate books and I can't sew." + +"But you might learn, dear," said her mother gently. "It is a great +pleasure to be able to sew, Bunny. I quite enjoy doing my piece of +work after being obliged to lie on the sofa for such a long time." + +"I don't want to learn to sew," cried Bunny. "I want to have a game. +I am tired sitting here, mama. Oh, I do wish Mervyn and Frank would +be quick and come back." + +"Well, my dear Bunny, they will soon be here," said Miss Kerr. "They +promised to be back at three and it wants a quarter to three now, so +you won't have very long to wait." + +"Oh! I'm so glad!" cried Bunny; "I've spent such a nasty dull day +without them." + +"Well, really now!" said her mother laughing; "that's a kind thing +to say. I thought my little girl liked being with me." + +"Oh! yes, mama, so I do," answered Bunny quickly; "but Mervyn has +been away such a long time, and I do want him to come back and have +a good game with me. He stayed to lunch with Frank up there at the +hotel, and Miss Kerr wouldn't let me go, and oh, dear! I have been +so lonely all day." + +"Poor little girl!" said her mother, "but Miss Kerr was quite right +not to let you go, Bunny; Frank will have quite enough to do to +manage Mervyn. You are very hard to keep in order, for you are very +wild and--" + +"Oh! I'm not a bit wild now, mama; I'm as quiet as a lamb--I am +indeed." + +"Bunny, Bunny, where are you, I say?--where are you?" called Mervyn, +running up the garden walk and across the lawn. + +"Here I am, Mervyn, and oh! I am so glad you have come back," and +the little girl rushed forward eagerly to meet her cousin. "But +where is Frank? I thought he was coming back with you." + +"Yes, so he is. He will be here in a minute; and he has something +for you, Bunny." + +"Something for me, Mervyn; oh! what is it?" she cried; "do tell me +what it is." + +"He'll tell you himself--he'll tell you himself," answered Mervyn, +and going down on the grass, he tumbled heels over head two or three +times in succession. + +"You tiresome boy," cried his cousin, "do get up and tell me what +Frank has for me, and where he got it, and--" + +"Go and ask Frank himself--there he is," shouted Mervyn, starting +quickly to his feet again, as young Collins appeared suddenly at the +top of the flight of steps that led from the drawing-room into the +garden. His hands were both behind his back, and he laughed merrily +when he saw Bunny's face of excitement and curiosity as she ran +across the lawn to meet him. + +"You dear good Frank, Mervyn says you have something for me," she +cried; "do tell me what it is. I do so want to know." + +"A bird, Bunny; a young thrush," said Frank gaily, as he drew a +small cage from behind his back and held it up to the little girl. +"I put him in here because it was the only thing I could find; but I +will get you a proper big cage for him to-morrow." + +"Oh! never mind the cage; but let me see the bird," cried Bunny. + +"He is rather frightened just now, Bun, but I think he will soon sit +up and begin to sing; and thrushes do sing beautifully." + +"He is a dear little fellow! a perfect darling! But where did you +get him, Frank?" asked Bunny in delight, as she danced joyfully +round her new treasure. "Did you manage to put salt on his tail?" + +"He hasn't got a tail, Bunny," answered Frank, laughing; "he is so +young that he hasn't got one yet. I caught him quite easily in the +hotel garden." + +"Mama, Miss Kerr, look at the lovely bird Frank has brought me," +cried Bunny, running back to her mother's chair. + +"A bird, Frank?" said Mrs. Dashwood, looking into the cage in +surprise. "What a pity it was to catch him and put him in prison, +poor little creature; he looks dreadfully frightened." + +"In prison, mama!" cried Bunny indignantly. "Why, it's a lovely +cage; and see, he has water, and hard-boiled egg, and bread sopped +in water, and--" + +"Yes, dear, I see all those things, but still he is in prison, +Bunny," said Mrs. Dashwood gently, "and I think it would have been +much kinder to have left him to fly about the woods and sing his +sweet songs in happy freedom." + +"I am afraid he will never sing again," said Miss Kerr as Frank +placed the cage on the table beside her; "he looks as if he were +going to die, I think; just see how he has gathered himself up into +a ball, and his eyes are shut." + +"Oh! I hope he won't die," cried Frank; "I am sorry I caught him, +Mrs. Dashwood. Shall I let him fly away again?" + +"No, you sha'n't, Frank; he is my bird, and you must not let him fly +away," cried Bunny; "I want to keep him." + +"But, Bunny, your mama thinks he would be glad to get away, so I +would rather let him go. Do say I may send him off." + +"No, no, Frank, you sha'n't; I want him; he's mine now," answered +the little girl in an angry voice; "I will have him and keep him;" +and making a dive across the table she seized the cage and ran away +with it down the garden. + +"Bunny! Bunny! come back this minute," cried her mother and Miss +Kerr together. + +"I'll soon bring her back!" exclaimed Frank, and off he went after +the runaway. + +When Bunny heard footsteps behind her she turned her head to see who +it was that was following her, and as she ran along without looking +where she was going, her foot came against a stone, and down she +went, cage and all, upon the gravelled path. + +"Oh, you cruel big boy!" she cried, bursting into tears. "Why did +you come after me and make me fall in that way? I'll never speak to +you again--never;" and, gathering herself up from the ground, she +began to rub her knees, and brush the dust and sand off her frock. + +"Now, don't be silly, Bunny," said Frank, as he picked up the cage. +"You are not a bit hurt--but, look here! I believe you have killed +the poor bird." + +"Oh! no, Frank, dear! oh! I didn't do that!" sobbed the little girl, +coming forward and looking wistfully into the cage. + +"Yes, I am afraid he is dead. He was very much frightened before," +said Frank sadly, "and the shock of the fall, and all the water and +things falling on him have killed him. I am so sorry. I wish, now, I +had left him to sing happily in the garden, Mrs. Dashwood," he said, +going back to where the ladies sat together, carrying the poor dead +thrush in his hand. "You were quite right; it was a great pity to +take the poor bird and put him in a cage. I will never catch a young +bird again--never." + +"Poor little creature! I thought it would not live long," said Miss +Kerr; "but, Bunny, you were very naughty to run away with it in that +way; I am sure the fall helped to kill the thrush." + +"I didn't mean to kill it!" cried Bunny in a choking voice. "Oh! +mama, I am so sorry!" and she flung herself on the ground beside her +mother's chair, and buried her face in her lap. + +"Never mind, Bunny, dear," whispered Mervyn softly, as he stole up +and put his arm round her neck. "Don't cry, dear; I am sure it would +have died very soon anyway. Wouldn't it, Miss Kerr?" + +"Yes, dear, I think it would," said the governess gently. "But what +are you going to do with the thrush, Frank?" + +"Oh! I suppose I must bury it," answered Frank; "I wish I had a +pretty box to put it in." + +"I have one, I have one," cried Bunny, jumping quickly to her feet, +and running off towards the house, mopping up her tears as she went +along. "I've got a dear little one that will just do, Frank." + +"We must have a solemn funeral," said young Collins. "Who will write +an epitaph to put at the head of his grave?" + +"An epee--what, Frank?" asked Mervyn, with a puzzled look on his +little face. "What do you mean?" + +"An epitaph, you little simple Indian; do you not know what that +means?" + +"No," said Mervyn gravely, "I don't think people in India ever have +such things." + +"Don't they indeed! Bunny, what is an epitaph?" asked Frank, +laughing merrily as he took a pretty bon-bon box from the little +girl's hand. + +"I don't know, I'm sure," said Bunny; "I never heard of such a +thing. What is it yourself?" + +"Well, you are a clever pair! Why, it's something written on a +tombstone," cried Frank, and, taking a piece of paper out of his +pocket, he scribbled a few words, and then proceeded to read them +aloud. "Listen and learn what an epitaph is, my friends:-- + + "Beneath there lies a little thrush, + Who should have sung on many a bush." + +"Capital!" said Miss Kerr, laughing merrily at this brilliant +production. "Why, you are a regular poet!" + +"It is very good indeed, Frank," said Mrs. Dashwood with a bright +smile. "Now, Mervyn, I hope you know what an epitaph is?" + +"Yes, I think so," said Mervyn slowly; "but no one says bush like +thrush. It doesn't sound at all right." + +"Hallo! young Indian, are you going to find fault with my +pronunciation? Isn't it splendid, Miss Bun, bun?" + +"I'm not bun, bun, and I think Mervyn is quite right," answered the +little girl with a toss of her head. "It sounds very funny, and all +that, but it isn't the proper way to say the word, I know." + +"Of course not, little Miss Wisehead, but we are allowed to say all +kinds of things in poetry," said Frank grandly; "and I can tell you +it's jolly convenient when a fellow wants a rhyme. But now that we +have decided this knotty point, let us go and look for a nice place +where we can bury the little fellow;" and, having placed the thrush +in the box, he went off to look for a suitable burying-place. + +"Put him in my little garden," cried Bunny eagerly. "There are +lovely flowers there, and we can make him such a nice grave." + +"Where is your garden, monkey?" said Frank. "I did not know you had +such a thing." + +"Yes, I have; at least I call it mine," answered Bunny, skipping +gaily along. "It's a dear little flower-bed down there by the +sun-dial, and it will be such a pretty place for the poor dead bird. +Do bury him there, Frank." + +"Very well; what pleases you pleases me," and off they went to +Bunny's garden. + +Very carefully Frank dug up the earth, and, having placed the bird +within the grave, he filled it in neatly, took a lovely geranium +from a neighbouring flower-bed, and planted it just over the poor +songster's head. + +"We must water it," cried Bunny, "or it will not grow," and away she +rushed to the tool-house. Here she found the gardener's +watering-pot, and, unfortunately for them all, it was more than +half-full of water. + +"This will make the flowers grow beautifully," she cried; and before +the boys had time to speak or stop her hand, she tilted up the heavy +pot and sent the water flying all over their feet and legs. + +"Oh! Bunny, Bunny! just see what you have done," exclaimed Mervyn, +beginning to cry as he felt the cold water soaking in through his +stockings and shoes. "Oh, dear! what shall I do?" + +"You little mischief!" cried Frank, shaking himself. "What on earth +made you do that?" + +"Oh! I wanted the flower to grow," said Bunny, bursting into tears, +"and I did not mean to wet you and Mervyn at all; and look at my own +pinafore and frock. Oh, dear! what will Sophie say?" + +"Sophie will say you are a naughty, wicked little creature," cried +the maid, darting out suddenly from behind a tree. "Come in this +minute and get your things changed. Monsieur Mervyn, go to the +nursery at once." + +"I won't go! I won't go a bit!" cried Bunny, stamping her foot +angrily. "The sun will dry me in a minute, and I won't go with you; +so there!" + +"Come along, Bunny, like a good girl," said Mervyn, "let us run fast +and see who will get up to the nursery first," and away he went up +the path as fast as he could. + +"I won't go, Sophie. I want to stay with Frank," cried Bunny once +more, as she caught the boy's hand and held on to it tightly. + +"You ought to go, dear, indeed you ought," said Frank. "See, Mervyn +has gone, and you know you should always do what Sophie tells you." + +"No, I won't; she's a nasty thing! and it's twice as nice out here, +so I won't go one bit." + +"Your mama and Miss Kerr have returned to the house, and you must +come in and get changed your dress, mademoiselle." + +"I won't! I won't," shrieked Bunny, clinging more closely to Frank, +and turning her back upon her nurse in a most impertinent manner. + +"We shall see if you do not, you bad, naughty child," cried Sophie +in an angry voice, and running forward she seized the little girl in +her arms, and carried her off screaming and kicking into the house. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE FIREWORKS. + + +A little before seven o'clock that evening the children stood at the +drawing-room window. All traces of the recent struggle in the garden +had been removed, and in the neat little girl in the dainty cream +lace and muslin frock, with its fluttering pink ribbons, few persons +would have recognized the small fury that Sophie had carried off +wriggling and crying to the nursery a few hours before. + +But Miss Bunny had already forgotten that such a scene had ever +taken place, and was making very merry over a big blue-bottle fly +that she and Mervyn were doing their best to catch as it walked up +and down the window-pane. + +Frank Collins sat at the piano playing some very lively tunes, and +from time to time Bunny would pause in her pursuit of the fly and +dance lightly over the floor in time to the music. + +"Papa, papa," she cried, as Mr. Dashwood entered the room with his +wife upon his arm, "doesn't Frank make lovely tunes?" + +"I don't know, dear," answered her father. "Frank does not seem +anxious to let me hear his music, for he has stopped short the +moment I appeared." + +"I am afraid Mrs. Dashwood would not care for my music," answered +Frank modestly. "I only play from ear." + +"Oh, Frank, how can you say such a thing!" cried Bunny indignantly. +"Why, mama, he plays just like Miss Kerr does. He plays away up in +the treble with two hands, and then he plays pum, pum, pum away down +in the bass; oh, it is most beautiful! Do play again, Frank." + +"No, dear, not now," said Frank. "I'll play for you another time, +but don't ask me now;" and he hopped the little girl up on his knee. + +"Well, then, ask--you know what," whispered Bunny mysteriously. +"You know you said you would--you promised." + +"Oh, yes, of course; I very nearly forgot," said Frank, "and I +suppose Sophie will soon be carrying you off to bed, it's nearly +half-past seven." + +"Yes, she will, unless you ask that, and papa and mama say, Yes." + +"Mrs. Dashwood," said Frank, "it's a gala night, as they call it, on +the Spa, and there are to be fireworks, so will you let these little +people stay up for them? Please do." + +"What! to go out in the night air and into the crowd?" asked Mrs. +Dashwood in a horrified voice. "My dear Frank, I could not think of +allowing such a thing. It is quite impossible!" + +"Of course it is, Mrs. Dashwood," answered Frank. "But I did not +mean them to go out at all, I--" + +"Oh, no, dear mama," cried Bunny eagerly, "Frank does not want us to +go out, but to sit up and see them from Miss Kerr's window, that is +all." + +"Bunny, come here, dear, I want to have a talk with you," said her +mother gravely, and guessing that she was going to receive a +scolding for her naughty conduct in the garden, the child stole +slowly over the floor, and at last stood in rather a shamefaced +manner beside her mother's chair. + +"Do you think, Bunny, that a little girl who screamed and kicked as +you did when Sophie took you in out of the garden, deserves to be +allowed to stay up to see the fireworks?" + +"No, mama," answered Bunny in a low voice, and two large tears +trickled down her cheeks and fell on her mother's hand. + +"Auntie, dear, don't scold poor Bunny, for she is very sorry she was +naughty, and she begged Sophie's pardon before we came down." + +"Well, I am glad to hear that, Mervyn," said Mrs. Dashwood, "and I +hope Bunny is sorry; but I don't think she should be allowed to stay +up to see the fireworks, she cannot expect it." + +"Why, mama, what is all this about?" said Mr. Dashwood, coming over +and putting his arm round his little daughter. "Why are you scolding +poor Bunny so much?" + +"Because I was naughty, papa," said Bunny, creeping up very close to +him. "But I am very sorry, and I promise to be good." + +"Oh, well, don't scold her any more, dear," said her papa, stroking +the little golden head, "she can't do more than promise to be a good +child." + +"And do forgive her, and let her stay up to see the fireworks," +whispered Mervyn, "it would be such fun!" + +"What is that you are saying, Mervyn? What dreadful plot are you +hatching over there?" cried Mr. Dashwood, "why, the fireworks don't +go off until nine, and your bedtime is at half-past seven, isn't +it?" + +"Yes, I know it is, uncle, but we're not a bit sleepy, and we never +saw any fireworks, and this is the last gala night before we leave +Scarborough, and--" + +"My dear Mervyn, what a string of reasons!" cried his uncle +laughing; "after such a list, I think we must surely grant your +request. That is, if mama will forgive this poor culprit, and allow +her to stay up." + +"Well, as she is sorry, and as Mervyn says it is the last night, +perhaps--" + +"That's right! that's right!" said her husband, "and now let us go +in to dinner. This animated discussion has given me quite an +appetite." + +And as Ashton at this moment threw open the door, and announced that +dinner was served, Mr. Dashwood offered his arm to his wife, and led +her away to the dining-room. + +"What fun! what fun! to be allowed to stay up to see the fireworks," +cried Bunny, and catching hold of Frank's arm she hurried him off +after her papa and mama. + +"Now, you must sit quiet, children," said Mrs. Dashwood; "if you +make a noise I shall have to send you away to the nursery." + +"We'll be as quiet as mice," said Bunny, and pulling Mervyn down on +a large woolly mat in the middle window, she began to whisper +joyfully about the treat that was in store for them before the +evening was over. + +The first part of the dinner seemed rather long to the two little +ones in their corner, but when at last the dessert was placed on the +table, and Bunny was seated at her papa's elbow, and Mervyn between +his aunt and his dear friend Frank, they all became so merry +together, that the fireworks were for the time completely forgotten. + +"Oh, papa, I heard such a funny noise just now," cried +Bunny suddenly, "what can it be? Listen, there it is +again--whizz--whizz--" + +"It's the first rocket, I'm sure!" exclaimed Frank, dropping the +nut-crackers, "let us go off to a window somewhere, for I am sure +the fireworks are going to begin." + +"How jolly!" cried Mervyn. "Aunt, may we run up to Miss Kerr's +room?" + +"Can't we see them from here?" asked Mr. Dashwood, pulling up the +blind and looking out. "What a beautiful dark night it is! Better +stay here, chicks, I think. See, there goes another rocket!" + +"Oh, that is lovely!" cried Bunny, clapping her hands. "But, papa, +dear, we can see them much better from Miss Kerr's room, she has +such a nice balcony, and she promised to let us go up to it if mama +would allow us." + +"Very well, then, away you go," said her father; "but be quick, or +you will lose all the fun." + +"Be sure and wrap yourselves up, dear children, if you go out into +the balcony," said Mrs. Dashwood. "The night air is very sharp." + +"Oh, yes, mama, we will make ourselves as warm as toast," cried +Bunny gaily. "Come, Frank, do come up to the balcony with us." + +"All right, little woman, jump upon my back and we'll run a race +with Mervyn." + +Very much delighted at such an invitation, Bunny sprang from a chair +on to Frank's back, and away they went galloping madly after Mervyn, +up the stairs and along the passage to Miss Kerr's room. There they +found Sophie waiting for them, heavily laden with cloaks and shawls +in which she insisted on wrapping them up till they were nearly +smothered, and shrieked wildly for just one little space through +which they might manage to breathe. + +"Very well, you will all catch your deaths of colds," cried Sophie. +"Miss Bunny, you will want the doctor to-morrow, I am quite sure;" +and she flounced out of the room and banged the door after her. + +"Good riddance to bad rubbish!" cried Frank, laughing, as he +released poor Mervyn's face from the thick shawl in which the maid +had rolled him up. "She's an awful scold that Sophie." + +"But she's jolly kind to us sometimes," said Mervyn stoutly; "and we +torment her dreadfully, don't we, Bunny?" + +"Yes, we do indeed," answered the little girl; "and she doesn't +always scold, Master Frank." + +"Goodness me! don't be so indignant," cried Frank. "I meant no +offence. I daresay Sophie is a regular angel." + +"She's not quite that," said Miss Kerr as she opened the window and +let the young people out upon the balcony. "But I am glad to hear +the children stand up for her, for, as Mervyn says, they do torment +her, and still she is very good-natured and kind to them on the +whole." + +"Yes, indeed she is," said Mervyn; "but oh! just look at that, isn't +it exquisite?" + +"Lovely!" cried Frank. "It's a regular shower of golden hail! But I +think I like the Roman candles best. Look, Bunny, there's +one--see--those two stars--watch how they change colour--first +they're red--then blue--then--" + +"Oh, yes, yes," cried Bunny dancing about. "There they go, right +away over the sea! What lovely things fireworks are!" + +"It is a pity we could not have gone down on the Spa to see the set +pieces," said Frank. "I believe they are most beautiful. But then +the crowd is something dreadful." + +"Do they send the fireworks up from the Spa?" asked Mervyn; "they +look just as if they were coming from the road up there in front of +the Crown Hotel." + +"No, they are sent from a place just over the Spa, up among the +trees there, but a long way below the hotel." + +"Oh dear! there goes a splendid rocket," cried Mervyn, "and doesn't +it make a lovely noise?" + +"Oh! I can't bear the noise," said Bunny, putting her fingers in her +ears, "it makes me jump." + +"Now that is really charming!" said Miss Kerr, as the whole bay with +its ships and boats was suddenly illuminated by a brilliant crimson +light. "How lovely everything looks in that soft, rich colour!" + +"Oh! and I declare you can see Oliver's Mount and the dear little +cake shop," cried Bunny. "And, Mervyn, I wonder where our old +donkeys are to-night," and she peered away out in the direction of +the sands where the poor animals usually spent their days. + +"At home in their beds, my dear," said Miss Kerr laughing, "and +that's where small people like you should be; it must be near ten +o'clock." + +"Oh! not yet, not yet," cried the children; "we must stay and see +the last of the fireworks!" + +"That is the last now, I'm sure," said Frank. "That thick yellow +light comes from the grand finale, which we cannot see--ha! there +goes another rocket. Hurrah! the whole thing is at an end." + +"Very well, my dears, you must say good-night," said Miss Kerr; +"your poor little eyes are positively blinking with sleep, Bunny, +dear." + +"No, they're not," said the little girl, "but they feel funny and +won't go quite straight." + +"Are you getting a squint, then?" said Frank. "Come along, old lady, +a few hours' sleep will make them go straight enough;" and putting +one arm round Bunny and the other round Mervyn, he marched them off +to the nursery, where he deposited them one after the other on their +little beds. + +The children were really quite tired out with excitement, and the +fatigue of sitting up to such an unusually late hour; so when Frank +left them for the night, they did not utter a word or make a +complaint. They said their prayers, were undressed at once, and, +laying their weary heads upon their pillows, were soon fast asleep. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER XIII. + +QUIET TIMES. + + +It is to be hoped that you see some improvement in Bunny's behaviour +since you first made her acquaintance, though she was very naughty +on the day when the poor thrush was killed. + +At all events she had been trying to be good, and when she failed, +or forgot her good resolutions she was so willing to confess her +faults, and was so truly sorry for them, that Miss Kerr and Mama, +and even Sophie, were always ready to forgive her. Miss Kerr had +quite won Bunny's heart by her constant love and gentleness, so that +the child could not bear to give her pain. This made Bunny more +thoughtful, and she soon learned to check her outbreaks of temper +and to keep out of mischief. + +Mervyn, who was growing tall and strong, was very much in earnest +when he had promised to try to be docile and obedient. He did not +forget that should he meet his dear mother and father in London they +would ask him whether he had kept his word, and he would not have +told them a falsehood even if he had been ever so naughty, for he +was a truthful boy, and not at all a coward. + +Mervyn often helped Bunny to remember her promises too; and it +seemed as though after the night when they had seen the display of +fireworks they had both made up their minds to go on steadily with +their lessons every morning. Miss Kerr was delighted, and Sophie had +really very little to do, for all the afternoon, and sometimes in +the evening also, they were out on the sands, or on the hills, or +seated in the garden. The reason of this was, that as Mr. Dashwood +had given them notice that the holiday was coming to an end, they +had implored their friend Frank Collins to come often to see them, +and as he loved Mervyn and could talk to him about his dear father +and mother, and listen to his descriptions of life in Madras and +Calcutta, he used to come every day to take the children out. + +Of this Mr. Dashwood was very glad, for he was pleased that such a +nice manly boy as Frank should give up so much time to these two +young ones, and used to laugh at Miss Kerr and tell her that they +learnt more from their young tutor Frank Collins than they did from +their governess. Miss Kerr often made one of the party when they +went out together and she used to like to listen to Frank too. He +had been to a large school, and was now only waiting for his parents +to return from India before going to another. He had read a great +many books, and could remember several stories and accounts of +voyages and discoveries. + +The children would sit under a tree or inside an old boat on the +beach and listen to him as he told them of the adventures of sailors +and travellers; or sometimes they went with him for a ramble in the +country, and he could show them the different kinds of trees and +wild flowers, and point out where the various birds built their +nests. + +Mervyn was quite surprised one day when a lark sprang suddenly from +a field of long grass and went soaring up and up in the clear +sunshine till it looked only like a speck, and at last could +scarcely be seen, but yet all the time kept trilling and singing its +beautiful song. + +As it sung it floated away to some distance from the place from +which it rose, and then suddenly it seemed to sink from the air and +to drop amidst the grass again. + +"Wherever has it gone to?" said Bunny; "there are no trees here, and +where can its nest be?" + +"Its nest is on the ground, in the long grass of the field," said +Frank. + +"Oh then, it has just dropped into it," cried Mervyn; "couldn't we +go and see?" + +"You wouldn't find it except you could trace the way to the spot +where the bird first rose," said Frank. "Directly the artful fellow +heard us coming he sprang out and started his song so that he might +lead us away from the spot where the nest is, and now he has +dropped in the grass a long way off to lead us still further away." + +"Oh _do_ let us go and look for it!" said Bunny. + +"I think we'd better not," said Mervyn; "remember the thrush, Bunny, +and we might kill some of the little birds." + +"Quite right, Mervyn," said Frank Collins; "we should very likely +step upon it or frighten the hen bird so much that she would leave +the nest. It would be like somebody coming and driving us away from +home, you know. When I was as young as you are, I used to rob the +nests of their eggs, but I have left off doing so now, and even if +you should ever collect eggs you should only take one from a nest +and contrive not to frighten the birds. But there are young larks +and not eggs in this nest, so we will let them alone to grow strong +and fly out into the sunshine and sing under the blue sky, won't we, +Bunny?" + +You may well believe that the children thought the last part of +their holiday was the pleasantest of all; for beside Frank they had +found another playmate, a great friend of his. + +His name was Captain, and he was a grand, black, curly, Newfoundland +dog. Such a fine fellow was seldom to be seen, and he learnt to lie +down in a patch of grass on the hill, just at the place where he +could watch for Bunny and Mervyn when they went out for their +afternoon walk. + +He would pretend to be asleep, and when they came quite close to him +would spring up and begin to leap about, leading the way to the +sands, and barking or rolling over and over till Frank or Mervyn +threw a stick as far as ever they could into the sea that he might +dash in after it and fetch it out. + +Captain was a splendid swimmer, and had once jumped into the sea +from the end of a pier after a little girl who had fallen into the +water. The child would have been drowned, but Captain seized her by +the frock and held her up till a boat could put out and fetch her, +and then the brave fellow turned and swam ashore. + + + + +[Illustration: Chapter decoration.] + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BUNNY'S IMPROVEMENT. HOME AGAIN. + + +The time had arrived when the holiday at Scarborough was to come to +an end. The last evening was spent on the cliff. It was while they +were all sitting on the hillside looking out to sea that Frank began +to talk to them about "lighthouses," those tall buildings, having a +strong lantern at the top, the bright light from which can be seen +far out at sea, so that sailors may know to what part of the coast +they are going, and may steer their ships in such a direction as to +avoid danger, or guide them into a place of safety. + +Then Miss Kerr told them a story about a lighthouse, and how a brave +and thoughtful little girl was able to save a great ship from being +dashed to pieces on the rocks. This lighthouse was at a very +dangerous part of the coast, and every day the lamps had to be +cleaned and fresh oil put in them, and the great metal "reflectors" +that were behind the lamps and threw the light far out to sea had to +be burnished. + +The little girl was the child of the keeper of the lighthouse, and +he often took her with him to stay there. He had a companion, for in +lighthouses there are mostly two men; but one day this companion +slipped off the ladder up which he had to climb to light the lamps +in the great lantern, and broke his leg. At the same time he struck +his head and became insensible, and so the father of the little girl +was obliged to leave her and to fetch a doctor. He meant to come +back very soon, but the doctor was out, and in trying to find him he +was away for many hours, and by the time he could get down to his +boat a great storm had come on, and the waves were breaking over the +shore so that he could not put out to sea again. + +Night was coming on, and the poor fellow paced the beach and +wondered what was to be done, for it would soon be time for the +lamps to be lighted, and there was nobody in the lighthouse but the +helpless man and his little girl. The sailors and fishermen all came +round, but it would have been a desperate venture to put out a boat +in such a storm, and with the great waves roaring and leaping on a +long sharp ridge of rocks quite close to where the lighthouse stood, +nobody could have expected to reach it alive. + +At last, just as the night was coming on, the poor fellow prepared +to risk his life rather than leave the ships that might be far off +at sea without a guide or a warning; but six strong men dragged a +large boat down to the edge of the shore where the waves were +lowest, and agreed to share his danger. Their hands were on the boat +ready to push her in and then scramble to their places; an old +fisherman was in his seat ready to steer, when he suddenly gave a +shout and pointed towards the lighthouse. + +There from the lantern high above the roaring waves shone the +brilliant beams of the lamps, and with a hearty cheer the brave +fellows drew the boat back, and shading their eyes with their hands +stared as though they had never seen the familiar light before. + +All night long they watched, till at break of day the storm abated, +the sea grew still, and far far away they could see a great +three-masted ship rolling and tossing, with one of her sails blown +to rags, but still keeping off the shore. The pilot had seen the +lights, and so knowing how to steer had kept her away from the rocky +reefs where she might have been dashed to pieces. + +It was not till the sun rose high and they were able to go out in +their boats that the men on shore could take the doctor to the +lighthouse, and then they found the little girl kneeling beside the +injured man and feeding him with some cold tea which had been left +in the teapot. He had come to his senses, and had tried to crawl to +the ladder, when he heard her voice singing softly right up in the +lantern. He contrived to drag himself along the floor of the room, +and could just see a gleam from one of the lamps coming through the +chinks of the wood-work. The child, when she found her father did +not return, had grown afraid; but her great fear was that the lamps +would not be lighted, and as the place grew dark she made up her +mind to try to light them herself. She had seen her father clean the +lamps, and had been with him up the ladder, holding his strong hand; +and she knew too where the match was kept, for she had been shown +everything about the place while she was there on those long days +alone with her father till the other man came on duty in the +evening. So up she went, softly singing a hymn to herself, and after +steadying herself by one of the iron rods that supported the +lantern, put the lighted match to the wick, and was so startled to +see the great yellow glare that shone from the reflector that she +nearly lost her balance. When she reached the bottom of the ladder +she found her friend looking at her quite wide awake; but he could +do nothing to help her, except by telling her how to manage the +light, and also how to move up there in the great glass lantern of +the lighthouse, so that she might reach each lamp in turn. + +When her father came up the steep stair, followed by a dozen of his +comrades, she gave a cry of delight and was in his arms in a +moment; and she was soon made such a pet of by the men there that +they all wanted her to accept knives, and rings, and pocket combs, +and even tobacco-boxes, because they had nothing else to offer her; +but she had her father and that was quite enough for her, and as he +held her to his breast she could feel his tears fall upon her head, +and yet he was as brave as any man who lived upon that coast. + +"However could she do it?" said Bunny, who had earnestly listened to +this story. + +"She forgot all about herself, Bunny, and thought only of other +people and of the duty that was straight before her," said Frank +gently. + +Bunny remained very serious all the rest of the evening; perhaps the +story of the child lighting the lamps reminded her of the trick she +had played poor old Ashton when she poured water into his +wine-glasses. + +But as we have seen already, Bunny was improving, and her mama was +indeed delighted to notice the change, and quite shared her sorrow +that they were so soon to leave for London. + +A day or two before they had begun to pack up Mr. Dashwood brought +the children glorious news. Frank Collins was to go to London and +stay with them till the arrival of his mother, who was on her voyage +home and would be in England in a few days. Then he was to go to +school, and perhaps Mervyn would some day be sent to the same +school, but of course in a lower class. + +This last part of it was not very cheering for poor Bunny, and she +was ready to cry; but she looked at Miss Kerr's kind gentle face and +saw the look of joy in Mervyn's eyes, and so she choked back her +tears, and presently when Mervyn said softly, "Of course I can't +help being glad, Bunny, but I shall never be anything but sorry to +be parted from you;" she was ready to say, "And I shall be awfully +sorry, Mervyn dear, but then when the holidays come we shall both +know so much more, and--and--" + +Here poor Bunny broke down and hid her face in her pinafore. But the +next day she had recovered her spirits, and she and Mervyn were +talking over their future plans, for it would be some months before +her cousin would know enough to enter even the lowest form. But one +chief reason for their rapid recovery of spirits was that it would +be a whole month or more before Frank himself could begin his +studies, and there were promises of visits to the Zoological +Gardens, the great Palm House at Kew, the old Tower of London, and +other places which would remind them of the stories they had heard, +and of the books which they had yet to learn to read. + +They had all these things to talk about when they found themselves +in the train that was to carry them home, and were so full of plans +and expectations that they were many miles upon the journey before +they remembered that they had not waved a good-bye to their old +friend Oliver's Mount, or thought of the sorrow of leaving +Scarborough for smoky, noisy, old London. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Naughty Miss Bunny, by Clara Mulholland + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAUGHTY MISS BUNNY *** + +***** This file should be named 19889.txt or 19889.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/8/19889/ + +Produced by Jacqueline Jeremy, Malcolm Farmer and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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