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+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Aunt Mary, by Mrs. Perring</h1>
+<pre>
+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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: Aunt Mary</p>
+<p>Author: Mrs. Perring</p>
+<p>Release Date: June 2, 2007  [eBook #21663]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT MARY***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4>E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship,<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net/c/">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br />
+    from page images generously made available by the<br />
+    International Children's Digital Library<br />
+    (<a href="http://www.childrenslibrary.org/">http://www.childrenslibrary.org/</a>)</h4>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="10" style="background-color: #ccccff;">
+  <tr>
+    <td valign="top">
+      Note:
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+    <td>
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      International Children's Digital Library. See
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+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+             <img   src="images/imgcover.jpg" width="338" height="600"
+             alt="cover" /><br />
+
+    </div>
+
+
+  <h1>AUNT MARY</h1>
+
+
+
+  <h4>BY</h4>
+  <h2>MRS. PERRING</h2>
+
+  <h4>AUTHOR OF<br />
+  'THE STORY OF A MOUSE,' 'THE STORY OF A CAT,'<br />
+ 'THE CASTLE AND THE COTTAGE,' ETC.</h4>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+
+  <p class="center">LONDON<br />
+  GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS<br />
+  Broadway, Ludgate Hill<br />
+  NEW YORK: 416 BROOME STREET<br />
+  1881.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<div class='centered'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+             <img   src="images/img001.jpg" width="357" height="550"
+             alt="Aunt Mary" /><br />
+
+    </div>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+             <img   src="images/img004a.jpg" width="500" height="150"
+             alt="Chapter Header" /><br />
+
+    </div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>AUNT MARY.</h3>
+
+
+<p>In one of those very pretty suburban villas which are to be seen in the
+neighbourhood of all our large towns, Aunt Mary lived, at the time when
+my tale commences.</p>
+
+<p>Indeed she had lived there the greater part of her life, for her father,
+Mr. Livesay, who had been a highly respected merchant in London for a
+great many years, had, unlike the generality of this prosperous class,
+retired from business as soon as he had secured a moderate competency
+for himself, his wife, and their four daughters, of whom our Aunt Mary
+was the eldest.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Livesay had purchased the pretty house, to which he had retreated
+from the hurry and bustle of the great city, but before doing so, he had
+taken care to ascertain that the inhabitants of the adjoining villa were
+likely to prove agreeable neighbours; and this he had done to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>
+entire satisfaction, as Mr. and Mrs. Maitland, with their two sweet
+little children, gave promise of pleasurable society.</p>
+
+<p>At the time of his retirement from business, the four daughters of Mr.
+Livesay were grown up to woman's estate; though perhaps that can hardly
+be said of the youngest, Irene, who was only sixteen, while her two
+sisters, Ada and Alice, were of the respective ages of eighteen and
+twenty.</p>
+
+<p>Great pains had been taken in the <i>real</i> education of these young
+ladies, for their excellent mother had spared no pains in their early
+training; and as they were all quick and clever children, the task of
+'teaching the young idea how to shoot,' in their case, proved
+'delightful.' We wish this were oftener the case; but to proceed: Aunt
+Mary, as we have said, was the eldest of these young ladies; she was at
+the discreet age of four-and-twenty&mdash;indeed, she might have been thirty,
+for the aptitude she displayed in household matters, taking all the care
+of housekeeping off her good mother's hands, and being looked up to, and
+appealed to, in all doubtful matters by her sisters.</p>
+
+<p>Both Mr. and Mrs. Livesay considered their daughter Mary their chief
+treasure; indeed, she was everything that a daughter ought to be.</p>
+
+<p>There was one thing, however, lacking that her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> three sisters possessed:
+she was not beautiful. Aunt Mary, if she had been pretty in infancy, had
+been spoiled by that dreadful ravager, the small-pox, which she had
+caught, through the carelessness of a nurse, when she was five years
+old.</p>
+
+<p>It had not, however, left her entirely without good looks; for the
+kindly feelings of her heart beamed forth in the eloquent dark eyes and
+the sweet smile that almost invariably lighted up her face.</p>
+
+<p>Laughingly, she used to say to her sisters, 'Well, you may all get
+married, and I shall live at home with my mother and father.'</p>
+
+<p>And even as Aunt Mary said, so it came to pass: her sisters all married,
+and she remained at home, the loving daughter, the tender nurse, the
+deepest mourner for the loss of their dear parents, whom she had so
+dutifully cherished in their old age.</p>
+
+<p>At the death of Mr. and Mrs. Livesay, which happened about ten years
+after the marriage of their two daughters, Ada and Alice&mdash;whom I must
+now introduce to the reader as Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Beaumont&mdash;Aunt Mary
+was warmly entreated to give up housekeeping, and go and reside with one
+or other of her sisters, especially as Irene, the youngest, who had for
+the last twelve months undertaken the task of governess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> to the two Miss
+Maitlands, their next-door neighbours, was now engaged to be married,
+and the house, it was urged, would be too large and too lonely for Aunt
+Mary to reside in with any comfort.</p>
+
+<p>This proposition, however, did not at all suit one who had for so many
+years acted independently; nor, although she was fond of children, would
+she on any account undertake a partial teaching of them. 'Let me have
+all the say, or none,' was Aunt Mary's maxim, so she decided to remain
+where she was, promising however, that when her sister Irene should
+marry Captain Gordon, she would take into serious consideration Mr. and
+Mrs. Maitland's earnest request, that she would continue the education
+of their two dear girls at her own house.</p>
+
+<p>This, after the lapse of six months, Miss Livesay had agreed to, and had
+also sent for the eldest daughter of her sister Mrs. Beaumont, who was
+now a widow, with three children, though she had been left very well
+off, and could have sent her daughter Clara to a first-rate school, had
+she been so disposed. Mrs. Beaumont, however, knew too well the benefit
+her child was likely to derive from the real education she would receive
+from her sister Mary, to hesitate for a moment as to putting her under
+that lady's exclusive care; and thus at the same time that Oak Villa
+received<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> Mrs. Maitland's two little girls, Annie and Dora, it became
+also the pleasant home of Clara Beaumont, who although she was the
+youngest of the trio, was certainly the most seriously disposed;
+perhaps, poor child, on account of the loss of her dear papa, who had
+died very unexpectedly, in the prime of life, from neglected cold, which
+terminated in acute bronchitis. This, though it had occurred six months
+previous to Clara's advent at Oak Villa, was an event still deeply felt
+and lamented by the sensitive child, and produced a seriousness of
+character seldom seen in children of her age; but the change was likely
+to prove very beneficial both to her health and spirits, and it was not
+long before Aunt Mary saw, with much pleasure, that her niece gladly
+entered upon her studies, and appeared very desirous to overtake her
+young companions in their several lessons, which, as she was exceedingly
+industrious, she was very likely to do before many weeks had passed
+away.</p>
+
+<p>We must now, however, look after Aunt Mary's second sister, Mrs. Ellis,
+whose eldest daughter, Mabel, was only a few months older than Clara
+Beaumont, but whose character at this time was as unlike that of her
+young cousin as could possibly be imagined, which the reader will soon
+perceive when we introduce her in the next chapter, associated as she
+will be with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> gentle and amiable daughters of Mrs. Maitland, who,
+together with her niece Clara, had been Aunt Mary's pupils for some
+months, though at present it was holiday-time.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.</h3>
+
+
+<p>'Mamma dear,' said Dora Maitland, the eldest of that lady's two
+daughters, a sweet gentle-looking girl about twelve years of age, 'may
+Annie and I go and ask Mabel and Julia Ellis to take a walk with us this
+afternoon? We are going to see John Hutton's beehives; he has got some
+new glass ones, and he says it is so interesting to watch the little
+creatures at work. I am sure we should all like to see them, and I do so
+wish that Clara was here, to go with us, she is such a dear girl.'</p>
+
+<p>While this request was making, Dora's younger sister, Annie, stood
+looking with beseeching eyes at mamma, evidently very anxious for that
+lady's reply, which was not immediately given, for Mrs. Maitland was
+apparently debating in her own mind whether it were desirable, or not,
+to attend to Dora's request.</p>
+
+<p>'May we, mamma?' urged the young pleader timidly. 'You are not afraid to
+let us go, are you?' she inquired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Oh no, not afraid,' replied Mrs. Maitland; 'at least, not afraid of
+your going alone; but what I am afraid of is, that it may be
+inconvenient to Mrs. Ellis to let your young friends accompany you, as
+at present I know that their nurse is away, and&mdash;and she herself is not
+at all well.'</p>
+
+<p>'Then do you think, mamma, that we may ask Julia to go with us? We like
+her best, and Mabel could stay at home and take care of the children, as
+she is the eldest.'</p>
+
+<p>'Not a bad suggestion, my dear Dora,' replied her mother, 'only I fear
+there would be some objection on Mabel's part to such an arrangement.
+From what I have observed in that young lady,' continued Mrs. Maitland,
+'she is not very loving, nor very tractable, and I fear she has been
+spoiled by over indulgence. However, if you will promise not to press
+the matter, should you see that it is likely to be inconvenient to Mrs.
+Ellis, you may go; it is a lovely afternoon, and I hope you will enjoy
+yourselves.'</p>
+
+<p>With light hearts and buoyant footsteps, the two fair girls set off on
+their errand of inquiry to Camden Terrace, where Mr. Ellis resided,
+meeting with a very kind reception from Mrs. Ellis, and a joyful
+greeting from Mabel and Julia, who, to say the truth, were getting
+rather tired of the monotony of home, especially as, the nursemaid
+being away for a fortnight, and mamma not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> being well, they were under
+the necessity of taking care of the children, if care it could be
+called, where neither love nor forbearance were in exercise; but the
+little ones were only prevented from doing mischief, or hurting each
+other.</p>
+
+<p>As the engagements of Mr. Ellis kept him from home all day, he had very
+little time, and I am sorry to say that he had very little inclination,
+to attend to his children, though we must do him the justice to say that
+he <i>wished</i> sincerely for their proper training; but he thought, as I
+fear too many papas do, that this duty belonged exclusively to his wife.
+This <i>we</i> think is a grave mistake. Children cannot be taught too early
+the lesson of obedience; and often it happens that the weakness or
+tenderness of a mother prevents her from enforcing this very salutary
+precept.</p>
+
+<p>But I return to our young friends, who were under the necessity of
+making their request in the presence of both Mabel and Julia, though
+they had agreed between themselves not to do so, but to ask their mamma
+alone, so that if it were inconvenient to her they would not press the
+matter.</p>
+
+<p>Without waiting for their mamma's answer, both the girls immediately
+begged to be allowed to go, indeed using every entreaty, so that poor
+Mrs. Ellis appeared quite distressed; and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> young Maitlands were no
+less so, for they remembered what their mamma had said to them.</p>
+
+<p>'I really scarcely know what to do,' said Mrs. Ellis, at last; 'I should
+be sorry to deprive you of any pleasure, but you know, Mabel, I am not
+well, and nurse is not with us: besides which, your papa made a
+particular request this morning that I would not let you go out to-day.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that is always the way with papa,' broke in Mabel, impetuously. 'I
+believe he would never let us go even for a walk, if he were at home.'</p>
+
+<p>'Hush, hush, Mabel!' said her mother; 'I wonder you are not ashamed to
+speak of your papa in this disrespectful manner. Besides, you know that
+you are not speaking the truth.'</p>
+
+<p>'Don't let them go, Mrs. Ellis, if it is inconvenient to you,' said Dora
+Maitland; 'we will call another day. I am sure mamma would be very sorry
+to hear that our coming brought any trouble to you.'</p>
+
+<p>'It is not a trouble, of course,' again broke in the impetuous Mabel,
+without waiting her mamma's reply; 'and we shall be home long before
+papa, so nothing need be said to him about our having been out.'</p>
+
+<p>The two young visitors looked at each other, and appeared quite
+distressed at this suggestion. They had been, and rightly so, taught to
+consider<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> deception of any kind as falsehood; but Mrs. Ellis did not
+appear to be of the same opinion, and though she still urged her own ill
+health and the absence of the nurse, she was evidently inclined to yield
+to the continued and earnest request of her daughters.</p>
+
+<p>'We will promise you not to be away more than an hour, dear mamma,' said
+Julia, who was certainly the best of the two girls; and this promise
+being seconded by Mabel very earnestly, poor Mrs. Ellis foolishly gave
+her consent to their going, which consent had no sooner been obtained,
+than the selfish girls darted off to make ready for their walk, leaving
+Dora and Annie very much concerned about what had passed, and determined
+in their own minds to forego the anticipated pleasure of seeing the
+glass beehives till a more convenient season, for fear they should not
+be back at the appointed time.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ellis, as I think I have before stated, had long been very
+delicate; she was of a nervous temperament, and nothing appeared to
+affect her health so much as excitement of any kind. She had been
+ordered lately to be kept perfectly quiet, but this is one of those
+rules that are more easily made than complied with by the mistress of a
+house, and the mother of a family; and, unfortunately for Mrs. Ellis,
+she had no strength of mind to aid her in the discharge of the duties<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>
+that devolved upon her, for she was weakly indulgent both to her
+children, and her servants, and thus she was too often the slave of the
+one, and the dupe of the other.</p>
+
+<p>After the young people had set off for their walk, she sat down to
+consider whether she had done right in letting them go; and remembering
+her husband's prohibition, and the uncertainty of the time at which he
+would return home, she evidently came to an unfavourable conclusion in
+the matter, as she exclaimed aloud; 'I wish I had not let them go!'</p>
+
+<p>Wishing, however, now, was of no avail, and as sundry screams from the
+nursery betokened a misfortune of some kind, the bell was rung for the
+cook to go, and ascertain the cause of the tumult. Fortunately, there
+was no great harm done: poor little Willie had contrived to mount on two
+boxes, which stood side by side, but not close enough together to
+prevent the chubby fat legs from slipping between them; and as Freddy
+and Gertrude in vain attempted to extricate the little fellow from his
+awkward position, they set up a simultaneous scream in token of their
+distress.</p>
+
+<p>Kind-hearted Susan, however, soon set all to rights, for she was
+well-known to carry in her pocket sundry mysterious little sweet balls,
+which, if they were not over-clean, had a remark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>able tendency to
+soothe, insomuch that sagacious Master Fred, seeing his sister Mabel one
+day crying with passion, inquired if he should go and ask Susan for one
+of her sugar balls, to do her good; a proposition which that young lady
+highly resented, though the very mention of the said sweets had stopped
+the crying.</p>
+
+<p>But we must return to poor mamma, who had in vain endeavoured to follow
+Susan upstairs, she trembled so violently. When, however, Willie was
+placed on her knee, and she saw the slight nature of the hurt he had
+sustained, she began to feel more composed, for there was really no harm
+done.</p>
+
+<p>The poor lady, however, was not suffered to calm down thus easily, for
+before Susan had time to quit the room, the sound of a key in the front
+door betokened the dreaded return of her husband, and again excited all
+her nervous fears.</p>
+
+<p>'Why have you got the children with you, Ada?' said Mr. Ellis to his
+wife, reproachfully. 'You know that the doctor has told you to keep
+quiet.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, I know,' replied Mrs. Ellis, meekly, 'but poor Willie has hurt his
+leg, so Susan brought him down to me.'</p>
+
+<p>'But what has Susan to do with the children?' inquired Mr. Ellis.
+'Surely Mabel and Julia are quite old enough to take care of them,
+without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> calling Susan from her work in the kitchen! Where are the
+girls?' demanded Mr. Ellis, sharply; 'I hope you have not let them go
+out after what I said this morning.'</p>
+
+<p>'Mrs. Maitland's little girls came to ask them to take a walk, and I did
+not like to refuse them,' said Mrs. Ellis, timidly.</p>
+
+<p>'Then I can only tell you, Ada,' said her husband, with suppressed
+passion, 'that by your foolish weakness you have deprived them of a
+great pleasure. It is not often that I can spare time to go out with
+them, but as I have had some tickets given me to go to a panorama, I
+have, at great inconvenience, come home, in order to take them, and you
+tell me that they are gone out.'</p>
+
+<p>Poor Mrs. Ellis! This was a terrible mortification to her; she felt for
+her husband, and she felt for the disappointment of the girls, though
+they certainly deserved it.</p>
+
+<p>'I am very sorry I let them go, dear Arthur,' she said, 'but they
+pressed me so much that I did not like to refuse.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes,' said Mr. Ellis, 'I know; it is the old story: you are too
+weak-minded to refuse, and our children are to be ruined for want of
+proper restraint, or else <i>I</i> am to be appealed to in case of
+punishment, and so must be considered by them harsh and unkind. I cannot
+help saying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> that it is very cruel of you, Ada, to give way to this
+nervous weakness of yours,' continued Mr. Ellis, as he saw the poor lady
+begin to cry; 'the only way will be, I suppose, to send the girls to a
+boarding-school, before you have quite spoiled them.'</p>
+
+<p>Having thus delivered his opinion, Mr. Ellis walked out of the room; and
+soon the rather violent shutting of the front door gave token that he
+had left the house, to the really great sorrow of his wife, who now
+heartily repented having given her consent to what had been the cause of
+so much trouble. But we must leave her to repent at leisure, and follow
+the gay young party, who, notwithstanding some few qualms of conscience
+on their first setting out, soon found plenty to interest them in the
+surrounding villas and gardens, where such diversity of taste is
+displayed.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>THE LOST BROOCH.</h3>
+
+
+<p>It was a lovely afternoon in the beginning of August. Some few fleecy
+clouds occasionally intercepted the rather too warm beams of the sun,
+from which our young friends intended to take shelter under the trees in
+the Regent's Park; for Dora and Annie Maitland had wisely deter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>mined
+not to mention Thomas Hutton and his glass beehives after what they had
+seen and heard at Camden Terrace, for they well knew that it would be
+impossible to walk that distance, and back again, in an hour.</p>
+
+<p>'I have a beautiful book that my papa gave me yesterday,' said Dora
+Maitland; 'I thought you would like to see it, so I brought it with me.
+We can look at it while we sit to rest in the Park.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes, that will be delightful,' said Mabel; but she almost
+immediately added, 'I think I would rather look at the gay dresses of
+the ladies; we can look at books when we are at home.'</p>
+
+<p>'Mabel is always talking about dress,' said her sister, laughing. 'I'm
+sure I don't care how I am dressed, if I am only clean and neat; it is
+such a trouble to be afraid of spoiling what one has on.'</p>
+
+<p>Julia's opinion was echoed by Dora and Annie Maitland, so Mabel found
+she had no seconder; and they tripped along silently until they arrived
+at the desired spot for resting, a nice seat under the shade of a large
+tree. Here they were just going to seat themselves, when an exclamation
+from Mabel attracted the attention of the others, who inquired eagerly
+what was the matter.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, the brooch&mdash;mamma's beautiful brooch!' said the excited girl, in
+great distress; 'it is gone out of my necktie. Oh, what shall I do? what
+shall I do? It is mamma's favourite brooch; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> one that papa gave her
+many years ago. Oh, I cannot go home without it!' continued Mabel, in a
+state of great distress.</p>
+
+<p>'How could you be so foolish as to put it on, when you were only going
+for a country walk?' said Dora Maitland.</p>
+
+<p>'I can't think why you should wear your mamma's brooch at all,' remarked
+Annie, 'unless she gave you leave.'</p>
+
+<p>'But mamma did not give her leave; mamma has forbidden us to wear it,'
+said Julia, 'and I begged Mabel not to put it into her necktie to-day,
+for fear she should lose it; but she would do it, and now all our
+pleasure is spoilt.'</p>
+
+<p>'You need not talk in that way,' angrily retorted her sister; 'you are
+fond enough of putting on mamma's gold chain when she leaves it out of
+the box, though she has often told you not to do so.'</p>
+
+<p>'Hush, hush!' said Dora Maitland; 'quarrelling won't find the brooch;
+and see, there are a lady and gentleman coming toward us. Let us return
+home at once, the same way that we came: there were not many people on
+the road, and if we all look diligently we may find it, though I am much
+afraid that we shall not.'</p>
+
+<p>This advice seemed the best that could be adopted by the young party,
+and they turned their steps homewards in no very enviable state of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>
+mind. There had been, indeed, much to damp the spirits, and prevent the
+enjoyment of this afternoon's walk. It is true that all around was
+beautiful, but that little monitor within, which insists upon being
+heard whether it is attended to or not, had acted like a thorn in the
+flesh to Mabel and Julia: and though Dora and Annie Maitland had nothing
+really to reproach themselves with, yet they could not forget the pale
+face of poor Mrs. Ellis, and her words of remonstrance to her selfish
+children seemed still to sound in their ears; and now they were
+returning home with a fresh trouble to the invalid lady.</p>
+
+<p>Dora's beautiful book, which had been presented to her by her papa as a
+reward for her kind and dutiful attention to him, when he was suffering
+severely for some days from nervous headache, had of course not been
+thought of; the brooch, the unfortunate brooch, engrossed every faculty;
+yet with all the search, and research, it was not found, and the young
+people took a dolorous leave of each other, and repaired to their
+respective homes.</p>
+
+<p>'Now don't you say a word about the brooch to mamma to-night,' said
+Mabel to her sister; 'I dare say it will be found, and it is no use
+teasing her about it, now she is poorly.</p>
+
+<p>'Mamma is sure to miss the brooch off the dressing-table in the
+morning,' replied Julia;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> 'and if I am spoken to about it, I am not
+going to tell a story, Mabel.'</p>
+
+<p>'Who wants you to tell a story?' exclaimed Mabel, sharply. 'I know you
+are always very ready to tell tales, when it would be much better for
+you to hold your tongue.'</p>
+
+<p>'You always go on in that way when you are vexed about anything,'
+replied Julia. 'I'm sure I wish we had not gone for a walk; we have had
+no pleasure, all because you would try to make yourself look smart. You
+know, I begged of you not to put on the brooch, but, as papa says, you
+are so wilful!'</p>
+
+<p>'You have no right to repeat what papa says. Better look at your own
+faults than talk about mine,' cried the angry girl, as she opened the
+garden-gate that led to the back door of their residence.</p>
+
+<p>Freddy was looking out of the window, but Mabel took no notice of him,
+but ran straight upstairs to her own bedroom, to take off her things and
+examine minutely her dress, if happily the missing brooch might have
+slipped down into her bosom.</p>
+
+<p>Julia, however, went to inquire how her mamma was, and therefore was the
+first to hear the dismal tidings that papa had come home on purpose to
+take his daughters to a place of entertainment, but finding they were
+not at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> home, had gone out again very angry, without eating any dinner.
+This, though it put the finishing stroke to that day's disaster, poor
+Julia knew would not be an end to the troubles they would have to
+encounter; for though indeed she was innocent of blame with regard to
+the brooch, she felt she had acted selfishly in leaving her mamma with
+the children, when she saw how tired and poorly Mrs. Ellis appeared to
+be.</p>
+
+<p>'I am very sorry, dear mamma,' said Julia, 'that you have been so
+troubled with the children; I hoped that Susan would have minded them
+while we were out.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, go now and take off your things, my dear,' replied Mrs. Ellis;
+'then you and Mabel can have tea in the nursery with the children, while
+I rest on the sofa.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, dear mamma; they shall go with me at once,' said Julia. 'Come,
+Freddy; come, Gerty; and come, little Willie,' she added, as she took
+the chubby hand in her own, and was leading him away, when her mamma
+said, 'Mind you don't hurt his poor leg, Julia, for he has fallen and
+scraped the skin off.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, poor boy!' said his sister, as she took Willie up in her arms; 'let
+us go and put a "passer" on it.' This was always what the little fellow
+called out for, when he hurt himself: 'Oh, put a "passer" on&mdash;put a
+"passer" on!'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Mabel was very glad when Julia brought up the children, and told her
+that their mamma was lying down on the sofa, for she had no wish to talk
+just then with anybody. She felt indeed much disquieted, but what her
+feelings were when her sister related the circumstance of their papa's
+coming home, on purpose to take them to a place of amusement, may be
+more easily imagined then described; and yet we fear that self-reproach
+did not, in the smallest degree, mingle with their feelings, so little
+do some people know of <i>self</i>.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+
+
+<h3>THE RECOVERED TREASURE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>It was with a feeling of great uneasiness that Mabel awoke the next
+morning. She had not at all made up her mind what to do. She was, as I
+have shown, a very selfish girl, and not by any means of a good
+disposition; indeed, I should say, that no selfish person could be. But
+she was not in the habit of telling direct falsehoods, though she did
+not scruple to prevaricate, if such a course suited her purpose; and
+this practice is certainly not only near akin to falsehood, but leads
+directly to it.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing was said at breakfast-time to make any disturbance, and papa
+went out as usual;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> while Mabel and Julia, with minds still oppressed by
+the loss on the preceding day, requested mamma to permit them to take
+the children for a walk, before they began lessons.</p>
+
+<p>'It is such a lovely morning,' said Mabel, 'and we can go towards the
+Park, the same way that we went yesterday.'</p>
+
+<p>Of course the brooch was uppermost in Mabel's mind, and indeed in
+Julia's too, though nothing was then said.</p>
+
+<p>'I am quite willing that you should all go, my dears,' said the kind
+mother; 'only remember, little Willie can't walk as fast and as far as
+you can.'</p>
+
+<p>'Et me tan, ma; me walk a long, long way wid pa, and me not tired a
+bit,' said Willie, shaking his curly poll, and running off with Julia,
+who was his favourite, to get dressed.</p>
+
+<p>'Susan, where's my gold brooch?' inquired Mrs. Ellis of the servant, who
+happened to be in the bedroom dusting, when her mistress entered.</p>
+
+<p>'I don't know, I'm sure, ma'am,' replied Susan. 'I saw it on the
+pincushion yesterday, before the young ladies went out; I have not seen
+it since. Perhaps Miss Mabel may be wearing it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Nonsense, Susan!' said Mrs. Ellis; 'how could you think Miss Mabel
+would do such a thing without my leave?'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, ma'am,' answered the steady servant, 'I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> don't know whether you
+gave leave or not, but I know I have often seen the young lady with the
+brooch in her necktie.'</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ellis felt greatly displeased, not of course with Susan, but with
+her daughter; she thought it best, however, to make no further remark at
+present, but to wait until Mabel returned for an explanation of the
+affair.</p>
+
+<p>It is almost needless to say that the morning's walk had neither been
+pleasant nor satisfactory to the two girls, for the treasure they went
+out to seek had not been found, and they returned home sick at heart. I
+say 'they,' because though poor Julia had not been really to blame, she
+sorrowed both on her mamma's and her sister's account; besides which,
+she had a dread of her papa's coming to the knowledge of the untoward
+event.</p>
+
+<p>'Mabel,' said Mrs. Ellis, as soon as that young lady came in, 'have you
+had my brooch on to-day?'</p>
+
+<p>'No, mamma,' was the immediate and the only response to the question,
+the words <i>to-day</i> forming a loophole to creep out at, so as to avoid
+explanation, though that was the very time to make one. Accordingly
+search was again commenced&mdash;as we know, without any result.</p>
+
+<p>The midday dinner-hour passed away uncomfortably enough, except for the
+little folks, whose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> appetite did not seem to be in the least impaired
+by surrounding circumstances; and strange as it may appear, Mrs. Ellis,
+notwithstanding what the servant had told her respecting Mabel's wearing
+the brooch, instead of closely questioning that young lady, permitted
+her to leave the room with the children, while she herself renewed the
+fruitless search. Tired out at last, she sat down in the dining-room, to
+await the coming home of her husband in no very pleasurable state of
+mind. Of course she must tell him of her loss; but she well knew how
+angry he would be, and what a commotion was likely to ensue. However,
+there was no help for it.</p>
+
+<p>'Ada,' said Mr. Ellis to his wife, after he had enjoyed a comfortable
+dinner, and had taken his customary seat in the arm-chair, newspaper in
+hand, 'what has become of that valuable brooch that I gave you on your
+birthday? You used to wear it every day; why have you not got it on
+now?'</p>
+
+<p>The usually pale face of Mrs. Ellis flushed all over at this inquiry,
+but she answered truthfully&mdash;Mabel had certainly not learned to tell
+falsehoods, either from her mamma or papa:</p>
+
+<p>'I am very sorry to tell you, Arthur,' said Mrs. Ellis, 'that the brooch
+is missing; I have searched in vain for it, and Susan does not know
+anything about it.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Have you inquired of the girls, and the children?' said Mr. Ellis;
+'perhaps they may have seen it.'</p>
+
+<p>'I did ask Mabel when she came in from her walk if she had had it on,'
+replied the lady,' and she said she had not.'</p>
+
+<p>'Call Mabel and Julia down, and let me question them,' said papa;
+'perhaps I may learn more about the brooch than you think.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I'm sure it is no use, my dear,' replied Mrs. Ellis, dreading a
+scene, for she knew how severely her husband was inclined to visit
+faults which she, poor lady, had not courage to grapple with. 'Better
+not disturb yourself about the brooch to-night,' she added; 'we will
+have another search for it to-morrow, and I am sure the girls know
+nothing about it.'</p>
+
+<p>'<i>I</i> am not sure of any such thing,' replied Mr. Ellis, 'and I insist
+upon Mabel and Julia being told to come to me.'</p>
+
+<p>As there was no resisting her husband's authority, the girls were
+summoned to their papa's presence; and though they knew not why it was,
+there was a conscious uneasiness in their minds which certainly did not
+lend wings to their feet.</p>
+
+<p>'Come here, girls,' said their papa, though not in an unkindly tone, as
+they entered the dining-room. 'I want to ask you a few questions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> Mind,
+I must have truthful and straightforward answers&mdash;no prevarication.'</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ellis looked at the two girls, and then at her husband, with
+astonishment, not having the least idea of what was coming; yet she felt
+very uneasy.</p>
+
+<p>'Mabel,' said Mr. Ellis, addressing his eldest daughter, 'you were out
+yesterday?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, papa,' replied that young lady; 'Julia and I went for a walk with
+Dora and Annie Maitland.'</p>
+
+<p>'And where did you go?' was the next inquiry, and one very easily
+answered.</p>
+
+<p>'To the Regent's Park, papa,' said Julia; 'but we were there only a
+short time.'</p>
+
+<p>'Now just one more question, and I have done,' said papa; 'did either of
+you girls lose anything while you were out?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, papa, yes,' answered Julia instantly&mdash;'mamma's brooch. Oh, have you
+found it, papa?' she exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>'Mamma's brooch!' said Mr. Ellis, with a look of assumed astonishment.
+'Why, which of you presumed to wear your mamma's brooch?' But he added
+almost immediately, 'I need not inquire further: I am sorry to say I
+have had some sad experience of deception in my eldest daughter, and
+have observed in her that silly vanity, that makes outside show a cover
+for inward defects.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> Go!' he added sternly to Mabel; 'I have nothing
+more to say to you to-night. It nearly sickens me to think that I have a
+daughter base enough to conceal faults, which she is not afraid of
+committing.'</p>
+
+<p>With conscious shame and distress, Mabel quitted the dining-room; and
+Julia also was retreating, when her papa told her to remain, as he had
+something to say to her.</p>
+
+<p>Though Julia felt very sorry for her sister, and would have been glad to
+speak a word of comfort to her, yet she was so anxious to hear from her
+papa something about the lost brooch, that she was not at all reluctant
+to remain; so planting herself by her mother's side, she stood patiently
+to listen to what further Mr. Ellis had to say.</p>
+
+<p>'Did you know, Julia, that Mabel had on your mamma's brooch when you
+went for a walk?' inquired papa.</p>
+
+<p>Julia hung down her head, yet she answered truthfully;</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, papa, I did know, for I begged her not to wear it.'</p>
+
+<p>'And when she persisted in doing so, why did you not appeal to your
+mamma?'</p>
+
+<p>To this question there came no response, so Mr. Ellis continued:</p>
+
+<p>'Let me warn you, my little girl,' he said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> kindly, 'never to connive at
+faults in your brothers or sisters; it is to them a cruel kindness,
+which both they and you may live to be sorry for in after life.'</p>
+
+<p>As Mr. Ellis said this, he drew from his waistcoat-pocket the glittering
+trinket, which had been the innocent cause of so much anxiety, and
+placing it in his wife's hand, said:</p>
+
+<p>'Now, my dear, I advise you to be more careful of your <i>jewels</i>, or you
+may lose far more precious ones than this brooch.'</p>
+
+<p>As he made this remark he nodded to Julia, though Mrs. Ellis well
+understood what her husband meant.</p>
+
+<p>'Now, my little girl, you may go and join the children, while I tell
+mamma how I came by the brooch.'</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>A FRIEND IN NEED.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Julia was very glad indeed to see the brooch again, and glad also to
+receive a dismissal, as she longed to tell her sister the good news.</p>
+
+<p>'And now, my dear,' said Mr. Ellis, when they were alone, 'I suppose you
+want to learn the particulars respecting the lost and found.'</p>
+
+<p>'Indeed I do, Arthur,' replied his wife; 'it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> seems a marvellous thing
+to me how the brooch should have come into your possession, or indeed
+how it was found at all.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, it all came about without any magic, as you shall hear,' said her
+husband. 'You remember the young lady, Miss Vernon, who was staying a
+short time in the winter with our friends the Maitlands, and whom we
+were invited to meet?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes, I remember her quite well; I thought her so very pretty, and
+she sang so delightfully. But what of her?' inquired Mrs. Ellis.</p>
+
+<p>'Well,' replied the gentleman, 'that lady is now a Mrs. Norton; she is
+married to a friend of mine&mdash;an old friend, I should say, for we went to
+school together.'</p>
+
+<p>'Then he must be considerably older than the lady,' said Mrs. Ellis,
+'for I think she is not twenty yet.'</p>
+
+<p>'You are right there, my dear,' said her husband; 'I dare say Norton is
+twice her age: but he is a fine-looking man&mdash;and,' added Mr. Ellis, with
+a significant smile, 'he has plenty of money, Ada: you know what a bait
+that is for the ladies.'</p>
+
+<p>'No, I don't know any such thing, Arthur,' replied the lady, warmly;
+'and I don't like to hear such things said. Men much oftener marry for
+money than women do.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Well, we will discuss that point some other time, my dear,' said Mr.
+Ellis; 'but now for my story:</p>
+
+<p>'As I was walking through the Strand this morning, who should I meet but
+the couple we were speaking of. I did not know them at first, but as
+they stopped short, and prevented my passing, I soon recognised both
+lady and gentleman, though it is many years since I saw the latter.</p>
+
+<p>'After the usual congratulations and shaking of hands had been gone
+through, my friend said:</p>
+
+<p>'"Well, I certainly did not expect to meet you here, Ellis, though,
+strange to say, you are the very person we came out to call upon; for,
+strangely enough, I have in my possession a brooch, which, I feel sure,
+must belong to your good wife, as it has her name, Ada Ellis, engraven
+on the back. Am I right?" added Norton, taking the brooch from his
+pocket, and handing it to me.</p>
+
+<p>'"Yes," I said, "this is certainly my wife's brooch, but how it could
+come into your possession is a mystery to me."</p>
+
+<p>'"It need not be so long, if you will just walk into the Temple Gardens
+with us. I am going to call on a friend there, and we shall be out of
+all this noise and bustle," said Norton.</p>
+
+<p>'As I was not just then under any engagement, I turned back with them,
+and heard the story of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> the lost and found. It is a very simple one, and
+I give it in his own words,' said Mr. Ellis.</p>
+
+<p>'"You know Mr. and Mrs. Maitland," began Mr. Norton; "my wife says that
+she met you at their house last winter, and as they are very old and
+kind friends of hers, and our stay in town will be short, we set off
+yesterday morning to call upon them. Unfortunately, the two nice little
+girls were out, so we did not see them, though I hope we shall do so
+before we leave London. After leaving Mr. Maitland's, we strolled
+towards the Regent's Park; and when we had pretty well tired ourselves,
+we made towards a pleasant seat under the shade of a magnificent tree. A
+party of young ladies were just leaving the spot which we had selected,
+but as they were intently looking on the ground, with their backs
+towards us, they, I suppose, did not notice our approach; nor could we,
+at the distance we were, recognise them.</p>
+
+<p>'"In this pleasant spot we remained for some time, and on rising to go,
+my wife saw just at her foot, though it was partially hidden by a tuft
+of grass, the valuable brooch which I have just had the pleasure to
+restore to you, and which it was our intention to place in your hands at
+your own home, had we not thus accidentally met you. Very glad indeed I
+am that we should have come upon the track of the young ladies,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> who
+could be none other but the little Maitlands and your fair daughters.
+To-morrow, I hope to bring my wife to Camden Terrace, and to introduce
+her to your good lady as Mrs. Norton, instead of Laura Vernon."</p>
+
+<p>'Now, my dear,' said Mr. Ellis, 'you have got your brooch, and its
+recent history. I strongly advise you to take more care of the one, and
+on no account to forget the other.'</p>
+
+<p>'I will try to take your advice, my dear,' said the lady. 'I am so glad,
+so very glad, that my brooch is found.'</p>
+
+<p>'And I am so sorry, so very sorry, Ada,' said Mr. Ellis, 'that we have a
+daughter so prone to the detestable vices of pride, vanity, and deceit!'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, don't be too hard upon poor Mabel, dear,' said her mamma; 'she is
+very young. You must forgive this childish trick.'</p>
+
+<p>'Trick!' said Mr. Ellis, bitterly&mdash;'yes, you have given it a right name,
+Ada; but I hate tricks.'</p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>A FRIENDLY PROPOSITION.</h3>
+
+
+<p>The morning after the foregoing occurrence found Mabel very dull, and
+very captious. She was of course glad to know that the brooch had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> been
+found, but very uneasy at the manner of finding it. She was not, in
+truth, sorry for the fault that she had committed, but her proud spirit
+chafed at the idea of being talked about in the Maitland family,
+especially as she knew that a young cousin of theirs, Harry Maitland,
+was expected to pay them a visit on this very day, when the whole affair
+was sure to be canvassed.</p>
+
+<p>But we will leave Mabel to her own uneasy thoughts, and look in at the
+pleasant family party assembled in the breakfast-room of the Laurels, as
+Mr. Maitland's residence was designated. This villa, as we know,
+adjoined that of Aunt Mary, who at this time was on a visit with her
+niece Clara to that young lady's widowed mother, Mrs. Beaumont. Cousin
+Harry had arrived, and made one of the happy group, who were sitting,
+books and work in hand, for they were never idle, enjoying the fresh
+pure air of the morning, and the delicious smell of flowers, of which
+there was a profusion both outside and in. The garden, indeed, was
+resplendent with variety and beauty of colouring, softly shaded down by
+the laurels, which gave their name to the villa.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Maitland had been reading a book of travels, and he was now
+descanting on the uses and properties of the Eucalyptus, or blue
+gum-tree of Australia, which is said to grow as much in seven years, as
+an oak will grow in twenty;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> attains sometimes the height of three and
+four hundred feet, drains the ground, attracts rain, prevents malaria,
+etc.</p>
+
+<p>'But do you really believe, sir, all that is written about this
+wonderful tree?' inquired Harry Maitland, who had been making a sketch
+of the said tree, from the description which his uncle had been reading
+to them.</p>
+
+<p>'Certainly, I do believe all that is stated of it,' replied Mr.
+Maitland. 'Why should I doubt well-accredited writers and eye-witnesses?
+The most extraordinary fact respecting it is, its health-diffusing
+properties, which, as I read, makes me wonder why strenuous efforts have
+not been made for its cultivation in England. I know there have been,
+and there are, some efforts made, but not on an extensive scale. There
+are some young trees in the Kew Gardens, which, before you leave us,
+Harry, I hope we shall go to see.'</p>
+
+<p>Just as Mr. Maitland was beginning to read again, he was interrupted by
+a smart rap-tap at the front door; and immediately after, the servant
+announced Mr. and Mrs. Norton.</p>
+
+<p>'Dear Laura,' exclaimed Mrs. Maitland, kissing her young friend,' I am
+very glad to see you again, though I did not expect you would be out so
+early this morning. I see,' added the lady, 'I need not introduce Dora
+and Annie; though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> you did not see them yesterday, it is evident they
+have not forgotten you.'</p>
+
+<p>Indeed they had not, for each had seized a hand of their favourite, and
+had given and received a warm salute.</p>
+
+<p>While these kindly salutations were going on, Mr. Maitland and Harry
+were exchanging courtesies with their friend Mr. Norton, for Cousin
+Harry was no stranger to that gentleman, who had often been a visitor at
+his father's house&mdash;or rather I should say rectory, in Kent&mdash;always an
+agreeable one, for he had travelled much, and could make himself a most
+interesting companion.</p>
+
+<p>'I did not tell you yesterday, Mr. Maitland,' said their visitor, 'that
+we leave England for Australia in a week's time; I know under the
+circumstances you will excuse this early and unceremonious visit, as we
+wish to spend as much time as possible with our friends, and to have
+some little excursions with the young people.'</p>
+
+<p>'Are you really going to leave England so soon, and going so far away?'
+inquired Mr. Maitland, rather dolefully. 'I am so sorry for our own
+sakes, but I hope it will be to your own great advantage.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, I hope so too,' replied Mr. Norton; 'our prospects are very fair;
+the climate is good, and I have many friends located there.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'And you will be in the native land of this magnificent tree we have
+been reading about,' said Harry, 'the blue gum tree. Do, Mr. Norton,
+write and tell us all you know about it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Harry is quite sceptical respecting its merits,' said Mr. Maitland,
+laughing. 'I do hope you will be able to convince him that what he has
+read and heard about it is all quite true.'</p>
+
+<p>'I am sorry to say that I have never yet turned my attention to the
+subject, but I make Master Harry a promise that I will do so, and that I
+will give him all possible information I can gain on the subject; but
+just now,' added the gentleman, 'we have a proposal to make, which we
+must not defer, as our time is so short. It is this,' continued Mr.
+Norton, 'that we all spend a pleasant day together at some place of
+amusement, to be chosen by the young ladies. We are to spend this
+evening at Camden Terrace, with our kind friends Mr. and Mrs. Ellis. I
+hope you will be there, and then we can settle our plans for to-morrow.'</p>
+
+<p>'We have been invited,' said Mrs. Maitland, 'but unfortunately we had a
+prior engagement; but I promise you, Mr. Norton, that in whatever
+direction you may decide to go to-morrow, we will accompany you.'</p>
+
+<p>'Stop, stop, my dear,' interrupted Mr. Maitland; 'you are reckoning
+without your host,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> although he happens to be in the room with you. Do
+you forget that I have to set off early in the morning to pay a visit to
+a sick friend who is particularly anxious to see me?'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, we shall be very sorry to go without you, Maitland,' replied Mr.
+Norton; 'but I suppose Master Harry, here, will try to supply your place
+to the young ladies, and we must do as well as we can.'</p>
+
+<p>'Did you hear about our finding Mrs. Ellis's brooch yesterday, in the
+Regent's Park?' inquired Mrs. Norton; 'but perhaps you have not seen any
+of them. It was a curious accident.'</p>
+
+<p>'The brooch!' exclaimed Dora and Annie, simultaneously. 'Did you really
+find the brooch? Oh, we are so glad! We told dear mamma about it, and
+she was as sorry as we were, but we have not seen Mabel or Julia since.
+How did you happen to find it, Mrs. Norton?'</p>
+
+<p>'We went to seat ourselves under the shade of the trees,' replied the
+lady. 'We saw you in the distance, but did not know who you were; and I
+dare say you did not see us, for you were all looking on the ground.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, of course we were,' said Dora; 'we were searching for the brooch.
+And I remember we did see a lady and gentleman coming towards us; we
+went away sooner on that account, for Mabel was in such a temper I felt
+ashamed of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> anyone coming near us, though she was the only person to
+blame, as she ought not to have worn her mamma's brooch.'</p>
+
+<p>'Hush, hush! my little girl!' said papa; 'don't you know that our motto
+is, "If you cannot speak good of a person, say nothing at all of them."'</p>
+
+<p>'Bravo! bravo!' cried Mr. Norton. 'I heartily wish that this golden rule
+were adopted in every family. What a world of trouble would be saved,
+and how much more time there would be for profitable conversation!'</p>
+
+<p>'Well,' said Mrs. Maitland, 'we are all heartily glad that the treasure
+is recovered; and perhaps its temporary loss, and the uneasiness it
+occasioned, may be a useful lesson to the young people.'</p>
+
+<p>The visitors now took leave of their friends, promising themselves the
+pleasure of seeing them in the morning, at the early hour of eleven, in
+order that they might have a long day together. It was also agreed that,
+to save time and trouble, the parties were to meet at the Park, if no
+objection were raised to the proposed plan by Mr. and Mrs. Ellis.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.</h3>
+
+
+<p>It was a lovely day, this 10th of August; there was scarcely a cloud to
+be seen in the sky. The trees, it is true, were beginning to put on
+their russet tints here and there, but this only added to the beauty of
+their colouring; there certainly was at present no disagreeable
+appearance of coming changes.</p>
+
+<p>It had been agreed, on the preceding evening, that Mr. and Mrs. Norton
+should call for Mabel and Julia, as Mr. Ellis had declared that he could
+not spare time for a day's pleasure, and poor Mrs. Ellis said that she
+felt too weak at present to undertake the task of wandering about in the
+Gardens.</p>
+
+<p>This was a great disappointment to their friends the Nortons, who were
+not quite sure that Mrs. Maitland would be able to accompany her young
+people, as she had intimated a doubt on the subject before they bade
+adieu on the preceding evening: however, they made up their minds that
+it would be a pleasant day for the juveniles. Mr. Ellis had strongly
+objected to Mabel's making one of the party; he insisted that it would
+be only a proper punishment to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> deprive her of the pleasure on account
+of the recent delinquency. He was, however, over-ruled in his opinion,
+both by his wife and his friends, and so, very reluctantly, he was
+induced to give up the point.</p>
+
+<p>As usual, Mabel's first consideration in the morning, after her papa had
+gone out, was what she should wear on this eventful day; and on her
+mamma's suggesting that she and Julia should put on their grey dresses,
+she was vehemently opposed by that young lady, who declared she would
+rather stay at home than go to the Gardens with Mr. and Mrs. Norton in
+such a dowdy dress.</p>
+
+<p>Julia, on the contrary, was quite content to follow her mamma's advice,
+as she very wisely agreed that if they put on their light silk dresses,
+they might have them soiled, or perhaps spoiled. This idea, however, was
+treated with contempt by Mabel, and the young lady waxed so warm in the
+discussion, that the too indulgent, peace-loving Mrs. Ellis gave way,
+and gave permission to her daughters to do as they thought proper, only
+she warned them that they had no time to lose.</p>
+
+<p>Away tripped the sisters to make ready&mdash;Julia with a determination to
+follow her mamma's advice, Mabel with the intention of keeping her own
+foolish resolve of pride and vanity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>An obstacle, however, presented itself on the first putting on of the
+silk dress: it had not been worn for some time, as during the summer
+muslins had superseded silk, and Mabel found, to her great disgust, that
+the sleeves were too short. She had certainly known of this before, but
+as she was by no means remarkable for provident care of her clothes, in
+taking pains to keep them in order, a button wanting, or a rent
+unmended, or a sleeve too short, were things not at all to be wondered
+at in Mabel's wardrobe.</p>
+
+<p>'How provoking!' she exclaimed, as she looked at her wrists; 'I cannot
+possibly go out unless I have under-sleeves, and I haven't a pair.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, do as mamma wished,' said Julia; 'put on your grey frock. You will
+be much more comfortable, because you won't be afraid of spoiling it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Hold your tongue, you foolish little thing,' replied Mabel. 'I tell you
+I wouldn't be seen out with Mr. and Mrs. Norton, with such a dress as
+you are wearing; besides,' she continued, 'Harry Maitland will be with
+his cousins.'</p>
+
+<p>'And what of that?' exclaimed Julia, in astonishment; 'surely you don't
+mind what he thinks about your dress!'</p>
+
+<p>There was no direct answer to this remark, but Mabel declared she was
+not going to submit to her younger sister's dictation; and as a capital<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>
+idea seemed just then to strike her, she went to one of the small
+drawers which indeed belonged to her mamma, and took from thence a pair
+of beautiful lace sleeves and proceeded to put them on.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, don't, don't!' cried Julia; 'pray do not wear those beautiful
+sleeves of mamma's! you know dear Aunt Mary gave them to her, and as
+they are her work, mamma values them so much! Pray remember the brooch,'
+she added; 'or if you will persist in putting them on, go and ask leave
+first.'</p>
+
+<p>'I mean to ask mamma when we go downstairs,' said Mabel, 'but you know I
+have not time now. I wish you would not be so officious with your advice
+and your cautions, just as if I didn't know how to act as well as you
+do.'</p>
+
+<p>With the promise that mamma should be spoken to, Julia was obliged to be
+satisfied, as a loud tapping at the front-door betokened the arrival of
+their friends Mr. and Mrs. Norton; and the two girls hastily finished
+their dressing and their discussion, and went down to join their
+friends.</p>
+
+<p>Whether, in the hurry of salutations and leave-taking, Mabel actually
+<i>forgot</i> her promise to speak to her mamma about the sleeves, we shall
+not undertake to say; certain it is, that there was no mention made of
+them. And the party<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> set off in high spirits to join their young friends
+the Maitlands, as had been agreed, at the gate of the Zoological
+Gardens.</p>
+
+<p>There had been strict punctuality on both sides, for neither party had
+to wait.</p>
+
+<p>But great was Mabel's mortification to find Dora and Annie had, like her
+sister Julia, dressed themselves in their plain grey frocks, so <i>she</i>
+looked like a golden pheasant among a set of barn-door fowls: and
+however much vanity she possessed, her common sense taught her that she
+had laid herself open to ridicule; though of course no one spoke of her
+dress, and even the beautiful sleeves seemed at the time to attract no
+attention.</p>
+
+<p>In a very short time, the whole party were intently gazing with wonder
+and admiration on the marvels of creation.</p>
+
+<p>The elephants, the giraffe, the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, etc., all
+passed in review, and elicited remarks of wonder and astonishment from
+the young visitors, such as their monstrous size and great strength were
+well calculated to draw forth. The lions, tigers, leopards and bears
+came in for a share of applause; but as the strength of these animals is
+not evidenced by their size, I must acknowledge they were taken less
+notice of than either the huge creatures or the smaller and more elegant
+and delicate quad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>rupeds, which, generally speaking, won the admiration
+of the party. The bipeds, we may be sure, were not neglected; but the
+congregated tribe of them kept up such an incessant clatter, that having
+borne it for some little time, Harry Maitland was fain to stop his ears
+and run out of their house, declaring that 'their noise was worse than
+could be made by a hundred scolding women.' A very ungallant
+declaration, certainly, for a young gentleman, and one that he had not,
+and was never likely to have, the opportunity of proving the truth of.
+Harry was soon joined by the young ladies, whom the noise of the
+parrot-house had nearly deafened, and a general resolution was put, and
+carried by the whole party, Mabel herself not excepted, that fine
+plumage did not at all make amends for disagreeable propensities.</p>
+
+<p>'And now,' said Harry Maitland, with just one sly glance at the bright
+silk frock, whose wearer was standing beside him, 'suppose we go and pay
+a visit to our friends the monkeys? That is to say, young ladies,' he
+added, 'if you don't think it would be jumping out of the frying-pan
+into the fire, and can endure smell better than noise.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes!' was the general exclamation; 'do let us go and see the
+monkeys.'</p>
+
+<p>'Who has got any biscuits or nuts?' inquired Dora Maitland. 'I haven't
+got anything.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'I have some pieces of biscuit left from what I bought for the
+elephants,' said Mabel.</p>
+
+<p>'And I have nuts in my pocket,' said Harry; 'while the monkeys are
+cracking them, we can be cracking our jokes.' But these proved to be
+rather unpleasant ones, to one at least of the party, who, nevertheless,
+as she could not foresee what was coming, was the first to laugh at
+Harry's silly speech.</p>
+
+<p>The monkey-house proved, as they thought it would, anything but
+agreeable to the olfactory nerves of our young friends; though their
+attention was soon diverted from what was offensive, by the very amusing
+gymnastics of the monkeys, who, while they performed their various feats
+of skill, had evidently an eye to the main chance, and kept a vigilant
+look-out for something more substantial than applause.</p>
+
+<p>'Give this old fellow a bit of your biscuit, Mabel,' said Dora Maitland;
+'he is evidently expecting some from us.'</p>
+
+<p>Now we know that monkeys, though they are anxious expectants, are not
+very gracious receivers, which poor Mabel, who seemed to, be the doomed
+person, found to her cost, when, on stretching out her arm to give the
+required morsel, the ungrateful recipient caught hold of the beautiful
+lace sleeve, tore it from her arm, doubled it up in an instant, and
+thrust it into his mouth,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> clambering with great rapidity to the very
+top of his habitation, as if afraid of pursuit, and looking down with a
+hideous grin on the astonished and disgusted parties below.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, poor mamma's beautiful lace sleeve!' ejaculated Julia, to the great
+annoyance of the trembling and affrighted Mabel, on whom all eyes were
+now turned.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, what a pity! what a pity!' sounded on every side; but there was no
+redress, and Mabel, unable to restrain her tears, or to give vent to her
+varied feelings of anger, scorn, and vexation, rushed out of the
+monkey-house, leaving Julia to explain, and her friends to condole. All
+the party except Harry Maitland had before seen, and very greatly
+admired, these sleeves of Mrs. Ellis's, which, as I said before, were
+Aunt Mary's work; and sorry, very sorry, were both Dora and Annie
+Maitland to hear that Mabel had put them on without her mamma's leave.
+'Well, it's no use being sorry now,' cried Harry Maitland; 'we can't
+restore the sleeve, that's certain. I wonder how girls can be so foolish
+as to dress themselves up, when they come to such a place as
+this&mdash;especially,' he added sarcastically, 'in other people's finery.'</p>
+
+<p>'I am glad Mabel was not near enough to hear your remarks, Harry,' said
+his cousin Dora; 'I am sure she must be quite enough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> troubled, without
+our saying anything disagreeable.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, but she brought the trouble upon herself, and therefore she
+deserves to suffer,' persisted Harry; 'the worst of it is,' he added,
+'she makes innocent people suffer for her fault.'</p>
+
+<p>'Let us go and see after Mabel,' said the kind-hearted Annie; 'I think
+we have all had enough of the monkeys to-day.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, one young lady has had rather too much of them,' said Harry, 'or
+rather, I should say, the monkey has had too much of her; though the old
+fellow appears to be quite satisfied with the trick he has played.'</p>
+
+<p>'There is Mabel,' cried Julia, as they came out of the monkey-house.
+'Poor thing, don't let us say anything more about the sleeve; I am sure
+she must feel very uncomfortable.'</p>
+
+<p>'I wonder where we shall find Mr. and Mrs. Norton,' said Dora; 'we have
+been a long time away from them: perhaps they are looking after us.'</p>
+
+<p>'I'll tell you where I think they are,' said Harry; 'it is about the
+time for the sea-lion to exhibit himself, and we had better bend our
+steps that way, for we are almost sure of finding the lady and gentleman
+there;' and it proved to be the fact, for among the numerous spectators
+which the sea-lions had attracted, our young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> friends soon singled out
+Mr. and Mrs. Norton. The flushed face and tear-swollen eyes of Mabel did
+not escape the notice of the lady, but seeing that she turned away, and
+appeared anxious to avoid observation, Mrs. Norton made no remark, and
+soon all the party were interested spectators of the various exploits of
+the marine prodigy.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly, however, a violent plunge of the animal into the water, on the
+side near which our friends were standing, sent a rather unpleasant
+shower-bath among the crowd, and caused a sudden retreat, though it did
+not take place in time for all of them to avoid a wetting. I am sorry to
+say that Mabel's silk frock came in for a share; but this would not
+really have mattered much, if, in her hurry to get out of the way, she
+had not unfortunately set her foot on the skirt of it, which made her
+fall on one knee, and thus come in contact with the wet soil and gravel,
+which, however harmless they might have proved to a grey dress, by no
+means improved the colour of a light silk one. 'Misfortunes never come
+alone,' it is said; and though I am not myself a firm believer in this
+proverb, it certainly proved true with regard to Mabel Ellis, though
+these misfortunes were entirely the results of her pride and self-will,
+so she does not deserve our commiseration.</p>
+
+<p>It was evident, too, that she did not wish for sympathy just then, for
+brushing off the soil from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> her dress, and making very light of the
+matter, she seemed to say: 'I don't want your sympathy; please to keep
+it to yourselves.'</p>
+
+<p>Of course my readers will not suppose that the young lady really was
+indifferent to the spoiling of her dress, but she had so much silly
+pride in her composition, that she thought to appear sorry would lower
+her in the eyes of her companions. She certainly did not judge <i>them</i>
+correctly, nor had she as yet, poor girl, reached the climax of her
+troubles; but for this we must go a little further, and see the party
+comfortably seated at one of the marble tables in the elegant
+refreshment-rooms, where tea, and sandwiches, and buns are plentifully
+provided, and highly appreciated by the young ramblers after their long
+walk and sight-seeing, which are both very exhausting, and require
+refreshment, and relaxation, and rest. Seated round this pleasant table,
+and in the enjoyment of the good things that were placed thereon, the
+spirits of the young ones of the party rose considerably; and Harry
+Maitland, who was quick-witted and fond of joking, created plenty of
+juvenile mirth by his remarks upon the monkey tribe, though of course he
+avoided saying anything that might lead to unpleasant inquiries.</p>
+
+<p>It happened, unfortunately, that when the lace sleeve had been so
+ruthlessly torn from Mabel's arm by the audacious monkey, it did not
+occur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> to that young lady to make sure of the other sleeve by taking it
+off and putting it into her pocket. Instead of acting thus prudently,
+she contented herself with tucking the lace up under its elastic band&mdash;a
+very treacherous safeguard, as it proved.</p>
+
+<p>Our friend Harry, as the young squire of the party, was very attentive
+to the ladies, as indeed he always was; but it happened unfortunately
+that in handing a plate of buns to his opposite neighbour, Mabel, he
+became the innocent cause of another disaster to that most luckless
+damsel, for the lace that had been so unceremoniously tucked out of
+sight, having escaped from the elastic band, attached itself to the
+handle of Mabel's cup, as she reached out her hand to take the offered
+bun, and upset the whole of its contents, which, though the greater part
+of the fluid went into the saucer, quite sufficient found its way into
+Mabel's dress to put the finishing stroke to her misfortunes.</p>
+
+<p>Hastily jumping up, and without waiting for any condolence or
+assistance, the excited girl rushed out of the room, followed by Julia,
+whose kind heart really ached to see her sister so distressed.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't follow them out, my dears,' said Mrs. Norton to Dora and Annie
+Maitland, who had risen from their chairs to do so. 'I am sure,' she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>
+continued, 'that Mabel would much rather be without your sympathy, and
+you cannot possibly render her any assistance. Poor foolish girl,' added
+the lady, 'I cannot say I am sorry for <i>her</i>; but I well know what
+trouble she must give her mamma, whom I really am sorry for.'</p>
+
+<p>'But, Laura dear,' inquired Mr. Norton, 'don't you suspect that some
+blame must attach itself to the young lady's mother? Faults, you know,
+like ill weeds, grow apace if they are not corrected; and the weeds, if
+suffered to grow rank, will destroy the beautiful flowers which we
+expected to see in our gardens. Is it not so, do you think?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, you are quite right, no doubt,' replied the lady; 'and I fear that
+my poor friend, Mrs. Ellis, will find it very difficult, if not
+impossible, to correct faults, which, through weak indulgence, seem to
+have taken deep root. But,' added Mrs. Norton, rising to go, 'this is no
+place for sermonising. We have had a pleasant day, notwithstanding the
+troubles of our young friends; we had better look after them now, and
+wend our way homewards.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.</h3>
+
+
+<p>'No, my dear, I am determined that Mabel shall not go with her sister to
+Mrs. Maitland's juvenile party. You over-ruled my wish yesterday, and
+suffered her to go to the Gardens, and I think you have been properly
+punished for that' (alluding to the sleeves). 'To-day I insist on having
+my way. It is most painful to me to see, as I cannot help doing, that
+through your weakness of character, or want of discipline, Mabel has
+grown up to be a plague to us, instead of a comfort.'</p>
+
+<p>This unwelcome truth was uttered by Mr. Ellis before he left home on the
+morning after the visit to the Gardens; and he added, before he left the
+room:</p>
+
+<p>'I am very glad that your sister, Aunt Mary, is coming home this week,
+for I intend to ask her as a particular favour to take Mabel under her
+care. I wish we had sent her to Oak Villa twelve months ago; we might
+have been spared much trouble.'</p>
+
+<p>This parting rebuke and warning had the usual effect of making Mrs.
+Ellis very nervous; she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> could not bear the thought of communicating the
+ill news it contained to Mabel. She had come to have almost a childish
+dread of the girl's temper, yet she knew well that her husband's mandate
+must be obeyed. There could no greater trial come to Mabel, at least so
+she thought, than to deprive her of the pleasure of this visit; and the
+indulgent mamma shrunk with great pain from the task, which had been
+imposed upon her: yet there was no escape.</p>
+
+<p>As the girls had finished breakfast and left the room before their papa
+went out, they of course had not heard his disagreeable intimation, and
+they were now in their own rooms, looking over their dresses.</p>
+
+<p>'What will you do, Mabel?' inquired Julia, 'about your silk frock? You
+cannot possibly wear it to-day; it is quite spoiled in front with the
+tea. I know mamma did not notice it last night, though she and papa were
+so angry about your wearing it, and about the sleeves too.'</p>
+
+<p>'Now just mind your own business, if you please,' said the uncourteous
+Mabel. 'I hear,' she added, 'that papa has gone out, so I shall go down
+and coax mamma to get a dress for me. I have seen plenty of pretty
+dresses in the shop windows, some of them very cheap; I dare say she
+won't object to buy me one.'</p>
+
+<p>After the delivery of this speech Mabel hastily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> left the room, and, as
+she had expected, found her mamma still seated in the breakfast-room,
+but looking very sad.</p>
+
+<p>She had not, however, at all <i>expected</i> to hear the unwelcome truth
+which had now to be told, and which greeted her on the first mention of
+a new dress.</p>
+
+<p>'You need not trouble yourself about a new dress, my dear Mabel,' said
+her mother, sorrowfully. 'Your papa says, that he will not allow you to
+go with your sister to Mrs. Maitland's party.'</p>
+
+<p>'Not to go!' exclaimed the astonished girl; 'and do <i>you</i>, mamma, say
+that I am not to go?' she inquired, actually stamping her foot in rage.</p>
+
+<p>'<i>I</i> have no say in the matter, Mabel,' replied her mother; 'your papa's
+will must be obeyed. He thinks that it is my fault that you are so proud
+and wilful, and he has made up his mind to send you next week to your
+aunt Mary, where you will be taught and disciplined, and he hopes in
+time become a sensible girl, like your cousin Clara.'</p>
+
+<p>'Mamma, mamma!' exclaimed the passionate girl, with vehemence, 'I hate
+Clara, and Aunt Mary too. I would rather die than go and live at Oak
+Villa, with that cross-grained old aunt and stupid cousin.'</p>
+
+<p>'Mabel,' said Mrs. Ellis, greatly shocked at hearing such expressions,
+'it is very wicked of you to give way to your passion, and to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> such
+unjust remarks as you have made, both of your aunt and cousins. Neither
+is your aunt cross, nor your cousin Clara stupid; though cross if they
+were, you would still be obliged to submit to your papa's decision.
+Remember,' continued Mrs. Ellis, 'you have brought the trouble upon
+yourself, and you have been repeatedly warned of the consequences if you
+did not amend. Now it is too late, for I am persuaded that nothing
+either you or I could say would alter your papa's determination.'</p>
+
+<p>A passionate burst of tears was all the reply that the humbled, but not
+penitent, Mabel, could make. She sat herself down on a low stool, and
+covering her face with her hands, continued to cry and sob, in spite of
+the kind remonstrances of her mamma, and even of her promises to
+intercede for her. Mabel knew that what her mother had before stated was
+quite true, and that all intercession with papa now would be in vain;
+and she was too much absorbed in selfish sorrow to care anything, even
+if she thought anything, of the pain she was giving to her poor mother,
+though she well knew that any trouble of mind increased the malady with
+which that lady was affected. Her own mortification, her own bitter
+disappointment, it was the thought of these that kept the sluices of
+sorrow open such an unreasonable time; and when Julia, on coming into
+the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> room, went to speak some words of comfort to her sister, she
+received a blow on the face which made her nose bleed, though certainly
+it was not intended, for the passionate girl was not aware of Julia's
+close proximity, as she threw out her hand only to indicate that she
+wanted no condolence.</p>
+
+<p>This accident, however, had the beneficial effect, for a time, of
+turning the current of Mabel's ideas from self. She was indeed shocked
+to see what she had done, though kind-hearted Julia made light of the
+blow, and declared it did not pain her at all.</p>
+
+<p>'I am sure you must all hate me&mdash;I think everybody hates me,' cried
+impetuous Mabel; 'but I didn't mean to hurt you, Julia, and I am very,
+very sorry for what I have done.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I know you are,' replied her sister; 'don't think anything more
+about it. And don't cry any more, dear; I can't bear to see you cry;'
+and she added in a whisper, 'It makes mamma ill.'</p>
+
+<p>This little episode had done more to convince Mrs. Ellis of the wisdom
+of her husband's plan, with regard to his daughter Mabel, than all that
+he had said previously on the subject; and she made up her mind to offer
+no opposition to anything he might propose. Coming to this conclusion,
+she dismissed Mabel and Julia, under the plea that it was absolutely
+necessary that she should remain quiet for a time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>THE JUVENILE PARTY.</h3>
+
+
+<p>The morning after the visit to the Gardens was temptingly fine; and at
+breakfast-time, Harry Maitland proposed a trip to the Kew Gardens,
+where, he said, there would be no fear of monkey tricks, and they would
+have the satisfaction of seeing specimens of the famous blue gum tree.</p>
+
+<p>'But you have forgotten, I think,' said his cousin Dora, 'that we are
+expecting two of your school-fellows and their two sisters; Mabel and
+Julia Ellis, and the vicar's son and daughter, Robert and Edith
+Newland.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes, I had quite forgotten the party,' replied Harry; 'I beg
+everybody's pardon for being so careless. I will do as you suggest,
+aunt, and help Dora and Annie to prepare for the guests.'</p>
+
+<p>'Thank you, my dear,' said Mrs. Maitland; 'I shall be glad to avail
+myself of your services, especially as I hear your cousins wish to have
+tea on the lawn, where there will be plenty of room for you to display
+your taste. I am only sorry that our good neighbour Miss Livesay, and
+her niece Clara, have not yet come home; so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> that we shall not have the
+pleasure of their company.'</p>
+
+<p>'O, we are all very sorry on that account,' said Dora, 'for there is no
+one like Aunt Mary, as we call her, for making everybody feel happy and
+joyful. We call her the <i>sunbeam</i>,' added Dora; 'and Clara Beaumont we
+call the <i>evening star</i>, she is so gentle and quiet, though she is
+quicker at her lessons than we are, a great deal.'</p>
+
+<p>'I remember Clara,' said Harry Maitland; 'poor girl, I think she was in
+mourning for her father when I was here in the winter. I thought she was
+a very nice girl, and I too am sorry that she won't be here this
+afternoon.'</p>
+
+<p>'I believe Miss Livesay is expected home to-morrow,' said Mrs. Maitland,
+'so you will have an opportunity of meeting with both her and her niece,
+Harry; but now, young people, you must set yourself to work, for I have
+many things to arrange in household matters, and can have nothing to do
+with decoration. Fruits and flowers, festoons and garlands, I leave
+entirely in your hands; I have the fullest confidence in your taste,'
+added the lady, laughing, and bidding them good-morning, and wishing
+them all success in their delightful occupation.</p>
+
+<p>The Laurels, or Laurel Villa, as it was sometimes called, was a most
+desirable residence. Exactly like Oak Villa, its next-door neighbour,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>
+in size and appearance, so far as the house was concerned; but the
+gardens differed very materially, Mr. Maitland's being so well stocked,
+or so over-stocked with laurels, that they had actually given a name to
+the pleasant abode.</p>
+
+<p>We won't complain of them, for they formed a delightful shade to many a
+rustic seat in the large back garden, and kept quite secluded the front
+of the house. The breakfast-room, which was at the back part of the
+house, opened on to the lawn with large folding glass doors; over which
+the balcony of the drawing-room formed a pleasant and very convenient
+shade in the summer season, at which time it rejoiced in a profusion of
+sweet-scented clematis, whose delicate tendrils hung luxuriantly over
+the balustrade, and in some places even swept the gravel walk.</p>
+
+<p>The balcony itself was filled with choice flowers, and was attended to
+with great care, by the lady of the villa herself. The wall surrounding
+the garden was almost hidden by the profusion of laurels, and half a
+dozen rather tall trees at the bottom of the garden formed a picturesque
+background to the whole. The smooth-shaven lawn must not be unmentioned;
+it made a delightful promenade; it had been the scene of many a joyous
+party, and it was to be the arena on which the young invited guests of
+to-day were to bear witness to the artistic taste, as well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> as to do
+justice to the profusion of good things provided by their kind
+entertainers.</p>
+
+<p>'I hope Maurice Firman won't play any of his foolish pranks to-day,'
+said Harry. 'He is always getting into trouble at school, yet the boys
+like him because he is so good-natured, and so ready to help them with
+their lessons; he seems as if he could not keep out of mischief. Edward
+is quite a different fellow, and his sisters, Ella and Lucy, are very
+nice girls; but they always seem afraid of Maurice, he is so fond of
+practical jokes.'</p>
+
+<p>'I hope he won't play any while he is here,' said Dora. 'I was going to
+ask mamma to let us have her gold and purple cups and saucers, but if
+Maurice Firman is so mischievous, they might be broken.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, as to that,' said Harry, 'I don't suppose he would attack the tea
+equipage, though he is a very good hand at clearing bread-and-butter
+plates,' he added, laughing; 'and I expect if that Miss Mabel Ellis
+comes, that we shall have a scene, for he is sure to turn her into
+ridicule.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I hope he wouldn't be so rude,' said Annie Maitland; 'surely he
+knows better how to behave himself when he is in company, and where
+there are young ladies?'</p>
+
+<p>'I am not at all sure of him, Cousin Annie,' said Harry; 'but I do hope
+that silly conceited girl will not be here, to put Maurice to the
+test.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'I really don't think that she will come,' said Dora; 'her papa appeared
+to be so angry about her going with us yesterday, that she told me that
+he perhaps would not give his consent to her being of our party to-day.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well done, Mr. Ellis!' said Harry. 'Keep the young lady at home; we can
+do much better without than with her.'</p>
+
+<p>'But Julia, I am sure, will not like to come without her sister,' said
+Annie. 'I don't think she would enjoy herself, if Mabel were not here.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, you judge other people's feelings by your own, my kind cousin,'
+said the patronising Harry; 'you mustn't always do that, though I
+believe there is some truth in what you say about Julia Ellis.'</p>
+
+<p>A silvery laugh ringing from the balcony just then made the young party
+look up, when they saw Mrs. Maitland, who was busy watering and
+rearranging her flowers, and who had been amused at her nephew's
+sententious speech.</p>
+
+<p>'Doesn't Harry lay down the law well, mamma?' inquired Dora. 'I think,'
+she added, 'he will make a good barrister; he is beginning to practise
+so early.'</p>
+
+<p>'I hope he will <i>practise</i>, as well as preach,' replied his aunt,
+laughing; 'example, you know, my dear boy, is better than precept,' she
+added, addressing herself to Harry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'But we boys and girls require both, aunt; and I and my cousins ought to
+be very good, for I am sure we have both,' said the polite young
+gentleman, with a bow.</p>
+
+<p>'At present you are all that I could wish you, my dears,' replied Mrs.
+Maitland; 'and I can only say now, "Go on and prosper."'</p>
+
+<p>'Mamma, mamma dear, don't go just this minute,' cried Dora, as Mrs.
+Maitland was retreating through the drawing-room window; 'Harry has a
+favour to ask of you.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, what is it, Mr. Special Pleader?' inquired the lady, resuming her
+place on the balcony.</p>
+
+<p>'Now, aunt,' said Harry, laughing, 'I don't think it is quite fair of my
+cousins to <i>engage</i> me in such a trifling matter, especially as I am not
+likely to get anything for my <i>brief</i>, except perhaps a rebuke from
+you.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, go on, my good sir,' said his aunt; 'I have some curiosity to
+learn what you have to do in the Court of Request to-day.'</p>
+
+<p>'It is simply this,' replied Harry; 'my instructions are to plead for
+the loan of the purple and gold tea equipage, in order to make a
+magnificent display before the astonished eyes of a parcel of school
+girls and boys. That's my case, madam,' added the juvenile pleader, with
+a bow. 'I beg to say,' he added, after a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> moment's pause, 'that <i>I</i> am
+no advocate in this cause; I leave it entirely in the judge's hands.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, we leave it in your hands, mamma,' said both the girls; 'we think
+we have confided our case to a very one-sided lawyer, and that one side
+is certainly against his clients.'</p>
+
+<p>'I am sorry to say "no" to any petition you make, my dears,' said the
+kind lady; 'but prudence forbids my granting your request to-day, as
+misfortunes will happen, and are very likely to happen, where such a
+young gentleman as you describe Master Maurice Firman to be is of the
+party. Besides, I really think myself,' added prudent mamma, 'that the
+white and green tea service, though not so gorgeous as purple and gold,
+will be much more suitable for your present entertainment.'</p>
+
+<p>'All right, aunt,' 'All right, dear mamma,' was the response to this
+decision.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, in Mrs. Maitland's family, what mamma said was always right
+with her daughters, and this saved a world of trouble.</p>
+
+<p>The happy trio went on with their preparations, and when the table was
+brought out on to the lawn, and had received not only the pure white and
+green tea-service, but the very elegant floral decorations invented by
+the cousins, it really had a most imposing appearance, and was
+pronounced by the highest authority to be perfect.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Well, now we have prepared the feast, or at least adorned it,' said
+Harry, 'I think we had better look after our own adornment, for we don't
+appear to be in a very fit state to receive visitors&mdash;at least I can
+answer for myself that I am not;' and he held up his hands in proof of
+this affirmation, though it was evident that Dora and Annie needed no
+such proof, as they were pretty much in the same condition.</p>
+
+<p>The young people had performed their ablutions, and were together again
+on the grass plot admiring their own handiwork, or rearranging here and
+there leaf or fern-wreath, when a ringing at the bell sounded an
+arrival, and Harry and his cousins met and saluted their young friends,
+the Firmans, in the hall: two very nice-looking girls and their two
+brothers, Maurice and Edward, of whom my readers have heard before.</p>
+
+<p>'You will take the young gentlemen into the garden with you, dear
+Harry,' said Mrs. Maitland, who had come out of the dining-room to
+salute the guests, 'and Dora and Annie will go with the young ladies to
+the bedroom.'</p>
+
+<p>'Mamma thinks, Mrs. Maitland,' said the eldest Miss Firman, whose name
+was Lucy, 'that we are too large a party to come of one family; she is
+afraid of giving you trouble.'</p>
+
+<p>'Not in the least, my dear Lucy,' replied the kind lady. 'I wonder,'
+she added, 'what your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> mamma would say if she knew that we turned you
+out of doors as soon as you came.'</p>
+
+<p>Lucy looked up inquiringly, and Dora explained laughingly:</p>
+
+<p>'Mamma means, Lucy, that we are all going to drink tea out of doors.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that <i>will</i> be delightful!' exclaimed both Lucy and Ella, as they
+followed their young friends upstairs to remove their hats and jackets;
+Harry having done as his aunt had suggested, taken Maurice and Edward
+down the steps into the garden in the meantime. The young gentleman was
+well aware that he had rather a rough customer to deal with in Master
+Maurice, as he had more than once been the object of his school-fellow's
+practical jokes; so he thought proper to give him a caution.</p>
+
+<p>'Now, I say, Maurice,' began Harry Maitland, 'don't let's have any of
+your school-boy tricks here, that's a good fellow; you know we have
+young ladies to deal with this afternoon, and we must try to please
+them.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I'm not going to do anything foolish; don't be afraid, old fellow,'
+said his companion. 'Why, Harry, you look as solemn as though you
+expected me to fly away with the tea-table and all the good things upon
+it,' he remarked, as he glanced with a well-satisfied and complacent
+look at the said tea-table; and added, 'I assure you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> that I don't mean
+to do anything so shocking, but shall content myself with a moderate
+share of the excellent provisions with which it is stocked.'</p>
+
+<p>This speech was delivered with mock gravity, and our friend Harry was
+fain to be satisfied with the promise, as the young ladies just then
+made their appearance, and there was a very general exclamation of
+pleasure and admiration at the really pretty and tasteful surroundings.</p>
+
+<p>Another ring at the bell announced more visitors, and the good vicar's
+children, Robert and Edith Newlove, made their appearance on the top of
+the steps, and soon joined the rest in their admiration of what had been
+effected by the artistic efforts of their young friends. Harry cordially
+greeted his school companion and especial favourite, Robert Newlove,
+while Dora and Annie welcomed with a kiss his gentle sister Edith; and
+soon the happy party were seated round the table, where Dora was to
+preside, though she had much wished that her mamma should take that
+important office upon herself.</p>
+
+<p>'I thought you told me that Mabel and Julia Ellis were to be here,
+Dora,' said Edith Newlove, who was seated near her friend. 'Are they not
+coming?' she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>'I really don't know how it will be,' replied Dora, quietly, for she did
+not wish to attract notice. 'Julia I hope will be here soon, but I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> fear
+Mabel will not be permitted to come; her papa is very much displeased
+with her.'</p>
+
+<p>Another ring at the bell made the young party suspend operations for a
+few minutes, and Julia Ellis received a cordial welcome, and soon found
+a seat near Harry Maitland, who had risen to receive her.</p>
+
+<p>Maurice Firman, not wishing to be less courteous than his friend Harry,
+had also risen from his seat, but very unfortunately&mdash;or shall I say
+clumsily?&mdash;in doing so, the contents of his cup went over on to his
+trousers, and he was too much engaged in keeping off the hot beverage
+from touching his skin, to deal in matters of courtesy.</p>
+
+<p>'What a clumsy fellow you are, Maurice,' said his brother Edward;
+'always getting into hot water.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, don't bother!' exclaimed Maurice, petulantly, and still shaking his
+trousers. 'I'd rather get into hot water than have the hot water poured
+upon me;' and having said, as he thought, a witty thing, and made the
+whole party laugh (which I must confess they had all been very much
+inclined to do before at his expense), he seated himself again at the
+table, cooling down as the hot beverage had done, and trying to make
+himself agreeable to his young friends by his very lively remarks, of
+which he had a good store.</p>
+
+<p>'Why is your sister Mabel not with you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> Julia?' inquired Lucy Firman.
+'I hope she is not unwell?' she added, seeing the colour rise on the
+cheeks of the poor girl.</p>
+
+<p>'Mrs. Ellis is not very well,' replied Dora Maitland, answering for her
+friend; while Harry, in order to check further inquiries, asked Maurice
+Firman if he had ever been to the Zoological Gardens.</p>
+
+<p>'I should just think I had,' replied Maurice, with a very significant
+shake of the head; 'but you won't catch me there again in a hurry. Why,
+I tumbled over into the bear's den, or cage, or whatever you call it;
+and if Master Bruin had been at the bottom of the pole, instead of the
+top, I can't tell you where my poll would have been now. Fortunately,
+the keeper was there, and I was got out somehow or other, I can't tell
+you how, for I was insensible when they picked me up; and that was no
+wonder, for I think I could not have been very <i>sensible</i> when I tumbled
+over. When I came round I found myself lying on my own bed, and mamma,
+and the doctor, and the girls all crying: no, the doctor wasn't
+crying&mdash;doctors never do cry, I suppose, it is beneath their dignity;
+but the others made fuss enough, and it was nearly a month before I was
+able to go out again. And depend upon it, when I did go out, I didn't
+walk to the Zoological Gardens, for I can't bear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> the name of the
+place.' Maurice doubtless thought that he had made a good hit, but alas!
+it only fell on one pair of ears.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately the tea passed over without any other mishap than the
+upsetting of the cup. Maurice Firman was certainly the chief spokesman
+of the party; and though I am compelled to admit that he displayed great
+attachment for plates of cake and bread and butter, I am also bound in
+justice to say that he was not at all wanting in courtesy to the young
+ladies, by whom he was surrounded. Everything, indeed, was pleasant, and
+as it should be, and the now antiquated game of croquet was proposed, as
+soon as the table with its adjuncts could be removed.</p>
+
+<p>'Now I'll toss this ball, and catch it ten times running, with one hand,
+while you are waiting for your game,' cried the impatient Maurice; and
+though there was a general exclamation of 'No, no, not until the table
+is cleared!' away went the ball into the air, and returned safely into
+the hand that sent it.</p>
+
+<p>The next descent, however, was a disastrous one, for the ball fell
+exactly in the middle of the table, smashing more than one of the
+bread-and-butter plates, to the great distress and consternation of the
+whole party.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, how fortunate it is that we had not the best china tea-things,'
+said Dora; 'they are very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> expensive ones. It does not matter much about
+these; we can easily get them matched.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I am <i>very very</i> sorry,' said the author of the mischief; 'but
+I'll save up all my pocket-money, and buy some more plates,' he added.</p>
+
+<p>'No, no, you won't,' said a kind voice from the balcony; and on Maurice
+looking up, he saw Mrs. Maitland, who had come out of the drawing-room
+to ascertain the cause of the commotion. 'Don't let this trifling
+accident spoil your sport, dear Maurice,' said the lady, smiling on the
+impetuous yet generous-hearted boy; 'only take care that you do not hurt
+your young friends, the ladies, by too rough play.' Having given this
+necessary caution, Mrs. Maitland left them to their sports, and as the
+unfortunate breakage had been the means of checking somewhat of the
+exuberant spirits of the youthful offender, everything went on very
+satisfactorily, and game succeeded game, with great amiability, until an
+unfortunate cat, belonging to Aunt Mary, which had accustomed itself to
+take an evening's promenade along the garden wall, made her usual
+appearance, and attracted the attention of the mischief-loving Maurice.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I must have a fling at that cat,' cried that young gentleman,
+taking up a rather thick piece of stick from the bushes. 'Now see if I
+don't hit her right down from the wall,' he added;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> and he was just
+going to suit the action to the word, when he felt his arms pinioned
+from behind, and tried in vain to make his escape.</p>
+
+<p>The cat, however, was more fortunate, for seeing that she had attracted
+attention, and very likely having had some acquaintance with school-boy
+tricks, she very prudently contented herself with a short walk this
+evening, and quietly slipped down into her own domain before the
+pinioned arms were set at liberty.</p>
+
+<p>'There, now you may go, old fellow,' said Harry Maitland, releasing the
+arms, which he had held so tightly that Maurice was fain to rub them
+violently to restore the circulation, while the whole party laughed
+heartily at his expense.</p>
+
+<p>'I wish Harry was at home with you sometimes,' said Edward Firman, who
+did not seem at all to relish his boisterous ways.</p>
+
+<p>'I wish he was,' replied Maurice, who looked rather red and angry at
+having been so ignominiously made captive. 'But you don't think,' he
+added, 'that I would let him master me so easily as he has done now,
+Ned; I was taken unawares, and that's not fair.'</p>
+
+<p>'But that was the only way to save the poor cat,' said Dora Maitland:
+'she might have been killed if you had struck her with that large piece
+of wood; and I think Cousin Harry did quite right in holding your
+arms.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Such a fuss about a cat!' cried Maurice, still smarting under the
+supposed affront. 'You should see how I served one the other day, when
+she came prowling about the house to steal anything she could lay hold
+of.'</p>
+
+<p>'Don't let him tell&mdash;don't let him tell it, 'cried both Lucy and Ethel
+Firman; 'it is a great shame of you, Maurice, to boast of your own bad
+deeds,' said both his sisters; and as the servants were just then again
+setting out the table with refreshments, the young party were saved the
+infliction of hearing an exploit boasted of, which would certainly have
+lowered Maurice Firman considerably in the eyes of all present.</p>
+
+<p>'I did not intend to hurt you, Maurice,' said Harry Maitland, as he
+clapped his friend on the back, and held out his hand in token of amity.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I know that,' replied the boy; 'I shouldn't play tricks with cats
+where there are girls.'</p>
+
+<p>'Nor at all, I think,' responded his friend; 'it is a cowardly thing to
+hurt a dumb creature that cannot speak or fight for itself.'</p>
+
+<p>'Can't they, though!' cried Maurice; 'I know, if they don't speak, they
+can make a horrible outcry. And as to fighting, just look here, my boy,
+what do you think of that for a scratch, which a wretch of a cat gave me
+because I took up her kitten and made it squall? Why, she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> flew at me
+like mad, and before I could put the kitten down, she gave me this
+wound;' and Maurice uncovered his wrist, and showed a very red and
+angry-looking scratch.</p>
+
+<p>'It's your own fault; you should let the cats alone,' said his sisters.
+'Mamma is always scolding you for teasing them.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I think we have had enough of cats,' said Robert Newlove; 'I
+don't like them myself, but I should be very sorry to hurt them;' and in
+this charitable declaration he was seconded by the whole party, Maurice
+excepted.</p>
+
+<p>We must now bid good-night to our young friends, as they will soon do to
+each other. Aunt Mary and Clara are expected home to-morrow, and that
+careful domestic of hers, Bridget Morley, who has lived so many years at
+Oak Villa, has got everything in apple-pie order for her much-esteemed
+mistress, and a lovely brood of chickens, which have been hatched since
+they went away, to present to the young lady who has the charge of all
+the poultry.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>THE BROKEN BOX.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Before we congratulate ourselves on Aunt Mary's return home, let us just
+take a look at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> disappointed Mabel, after her sister Julia had gone
+to the tea-party.</p>
+
+<p>It was in vain that her too indulgent mother tried to soften her
+affliction, very injudiciously, we think, as every remark of hers only
+elicited a fresh burst of feeling; and Mrs. Ellis felt it quite a relief
+when the self-tormenting girl rose up hastily and retreated to her
+bedroom, there to ponder over, not her own delinquencies, we fear, but
+the wrongs inflicted on her by others.</p>
+
+<p>A little voice which said, 'May I come in, Mabel?' roused her for a
+moment, and she answered very crossly: 'What is it you want, Fred? I
+wish you would not come teasing me. Go away; I don't want any of you.</p>
+
+<p>'I only want to show you the nice box of puzzles papa has brought home
+for me,' replied Freddy. 'I want you, Mabel dear, to help me to put it
+together. I won't tease you.'</p>
+
+<p>'I don't want to see your box, and I shan't open the door,' said the
+ungracious girl. 'Take your box away, and get some one else to help you
+to put your puzzle together,' she added; and poor Fred, thus rudely
+repressed, turned to wend his way downstairs again. Unfortunately, his
+foot caught the fringe of the door-mat, which caused him to fall heavily
+and strike his head against the railing of the banisters, while the
+pretty box, escaping from his hand, went right<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> down the stairs into the
+hall, where it burst open, and scattered the inclosed pieces right and
+left.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel was now quite roused, and fearing that her papa, attracted by the
+noise, might come up to see what was the matter, rather than being moved
+by any sisterly feeling, she reluctantly opened the door, and lifted up
+the prostrate Freddy, who, although he had received a rather severe blow
+on the forehead from coming in contact with the railings, was too much
+of a man to cry, and seemed more anxious about the fate of his new
+plaything, than desirous of obtaining either aid or sympathy; nor was he
+very likely to obtain either from Mabel, though she took him into her
+room to scold him for what he had done.</p>
+
+<p>'Now just see what you have done,' said the selfish girl, 'by bringing
+up that nasty box, and then letting it fall down the stairs. I hear
+papa's voice in the hall; he will most likely come up here, and I shall
+get scolded for your stupidity.'</p>
+
+<p>'I will go down to him,' said Freddy, 'and then I can tell him all about
+the box falling; papa needn't come up here.'</p>
+
+<p>'How came you to let your box fall, Fred?' inquired Mr. Ellis, helping
+the boy to pick up the scattered pieces.</p>
+
+<p>'I caught my foot in the fringe of the bedroom mat, papa,' replied
+Freddy; 'I am so sorry the box is broken.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Yes, so am I,' said his father; 'but why did you take it upstairs? that
+is what I should like to know.'</p>
+
+<p>As there was no answer returned to this question, Mr. Ellis stated the
+truth himself.</p>
+
+<p>'I suppose,' he continued, 'you went to show it to your sister
+Mabel&mdash;was that it?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, papa,' said the boy, still holding down his head; and kind papa,
+seeing there was something wrong, would not then press further questions
+on his little boy, though he remarked to his wife, when they were again
+seated, that he should indeed be very glad when Mabel was under the care
+of someone who knew how to manage her, for he was quite disgusted with
+her exhibitions of temper.</p>
+
+<p>'My sister will I dare say be here to-morrow,' said Mrs. Ellis; 'and I
+will tell her what you wish respecting Mabel, though I know she does not
+like the poor girl: and Mabel will find Oak Villa very different to
+home, I am afraid.'</p>
+
+<p>'That is not what I am afraid of,' replied Mr. Ellis; 'my fear is, that
+Miss Livesay will find the girl so intolerable, that we shall soon have
+her back on our hands again.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Arthur! you are so very severe in your remarks,' said the too
+indulgent mother. 'My sister is very patient, and very kind to children,
+though she is so firm.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Which I am sorry to say you are not, my dear; and it is this want of
+firmness which occasions all the mischief,' said the gentleman; adding,
+rather bitterly, 'You order a thing to be done, but you take no care to
+see your orders enforced, and thus we are plagued with unruly children
+and wilful servants.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, dear, you are always finding fault with me, whatever I do,' said
+the poor self-afflicted lady, though she must have felt that what her
+good husband had said was quite true; and well would it have been for
+him, for herself, and indeed for the whole household, if, instead of
+considering herself a martyr, she had set to work to amend the errors
+which he had pointed out; but, alas! we don't see ourselves as others
+see us.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>AUNT MARY'S RETURN.</h3>
+
+
+<p>On the evening of the day after the juvenile party, a cab drove up to
+the garden gate of Oak Villa, and Dora and Annie Maitland, who had been
+on the look-out for some time at the window of an upper room, had the
+satisfaction of seeing their kind preceptress, and her niece Clara
+Beaumont, alight from it, receiving and giving at the same time the
+welcome nod and smile of recog<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>nition. But here is the trusty Bridget,
+with her merry face beaming with gladness, and her voice almost
+tremulous with joy, for she has had rather a dull time of it while her
+mistress and Clara have been away; though Jane Somers, a young girl
+living not far off from Oak Villa, came regularly to sleep at the house.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, Bridget, and how have you been all this time? not idle, I can see
+at the first glance,' said Aunt Mary, looking round at the
+brightly-polished furniture and fire-irons.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh no, ma'am, I don't think anybody can be idle at your house,' replied
+Bridget; 'and I have had plenty to do, for I have cleaned the house from
+top to bottom, and have taken care of the cat and the fowls. And oh,
+Miss Clara, the old hen has brought out such a beautiful set of chickens
+as you never seed afore; but I dare say you be too tired to come and
+look at them now,' added Bridget.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, we are too tired now,' said Miss Livesay, answering for her niece;
+'we want to take off our wraps, and have some tea. Besides, you forget,
+my good woman,' added her mistress, 'that the chickens are now all
+hidden under their mother's wing, and she wouldn't suffer us to disturb
+them.'</p>
+
+<p>'Dear me, I quite forgot that,' said Bridget, as she busied herself in
+assisting in the removal of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> cloaks and shawls, and carrying off trunks
+and band-boxes; one of the latter of which her kind mistress told her
+was for her, and contained a new cap and bonnet.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, ma'am, you are so kind,' said the pleased domestic; 'you never
+forget anyone.' And she hurried away with her load, with a glad tear
+glistening in her eye.</p>
+
+<p>It was quite true what Bridget had said about Aunt Mary&mdash;she was indeed
+kind-hearted and open-handed: but with all this she was not foolishly
+indulgent. Her judgment was correct, and having made up her mind as to
+what was the right course to pursue, she took pains to see her plans
+carried out. Often and often had she remonstrated with her sister, Mrs.
+Ellis, on her laxity of discipline, both with her children and servants;
+and sometimes she had ventured, though that perhaps was not very wise,
+to set their mutual friend Mrs. Maitland before her as a pattern for
+mothers and mistresses. This, however, invariably produced some angry
+retort, or at least a flood of tears, and ended with a secret
+determination on the part of the elder sister to say no more on the
+subject, but permit things to take their course; though she had made up
+her mind on coming home to do as Mr. Ellis had once suggested to her,
+that was, to receive Mabel as one of her pupils.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This was entirely with the idea of relieving her sister, and effecting a
+reformation, if possible, in the character of her niece; though she
+almost dreaded the introduction of such an element of discord into their
+peaceful and happy household. Mabel, we have seen, had a great dislike
+to her gentle cousin Clara, perhaps because she had heard her praises
+often sounded; and she disliked her Aunt Mary quite as much, though it
+would have been difficult for her to have given a 'reason why,' if it
+had been asked for.</p>
+
+<p>'I shall hate them both, I know I shall,' said Mabel to her sister
+Julia, on the morning of the day on which Miss Livesay was expected to
+come to Camden Terrace. 'There will be lessons and work, lessons and
+work, all the day long. I shall be miserable, I know I shall; and I'll
+tell mamma so, and beg of her not to let me go.'</p>
+
+<p>'No, don't do that, Mabel; you will only make poor mamma unhappy, and
+papa angry,' said the wise younger sister; and she added, 'I wish I
+could go to Oak Villa. I like Cousin Clara very much, and Dora and Annie
+Maitland too; I am sure you will find them very nice companions, all of
+them.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes, it's all very fine what you are saying,' said Mabel; 'but I
+know very well that you only want to get rid of me, and so does papa,
+for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> I heard him say so; and I think it's unkind and cruel of you both,'
+exclaimed the angry girl.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, at any rate, you are not going very far away from us,' said
+Julia; 'it is only a nice walk from Oak Villa to our house, so I and
+Freddy can come and see you often, and you can come to see us.'</p>
+
+<p>Just then a cab was heard to stop at the door, and the dreaded lady and
+her niece Clara alighted, each with parcels in their hands; presents, no
+doubt, to the small fry who had climbed up to the window to see who was
+coming.</p>
+
+<p>'Now don't look so cross, Mabel; don't let Aunt Mary see that you don't
+like to go to Oak Villa,' entreated Julia.</p>
+
+<p>'But I shall let her see!' replied the perverse girl; 'and I <i>shall</i>
+tell her so, too&mdash;see if I don't,' she added, nodding her head; though,
+when she came into the presence of that good lady, she had not a word to
+say for herself, such a charm is there in the manner of some people to
+overawe presumption.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel and Julia made their appearance in the dining-room, just after the
+first kindly greetings and affectionate salutations of the sisters had
+been exchanged, and the same process had to be gone over with cousins
+and aunt, the latter showing no difference whatever in the warm embrace
+of Mabel and Julia, though we well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> know the great difference there was
+in her estimate of the character of the two girls.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, my dear Mabel,' said Miss Livesay, after a little conference had
+been held, 'so it appears your papa and mamma wish that we should become
+better acquainted with each other. Shall you like to pay me a visit at
+Oak Villa?'</p>
+
+<p>Here was a grand opportunity for Mabel to display her boasted courage,
+and to speak her mind; instead of which, she only looked very sad, hung
+down her head, and, rudely enough, made no reply; while her aunt said,
+with a smile:</p>
+
+<p>'That is well; silence gives consent. So you had better go, my dear, and
+get ready, for I do not wish to keep the cabman waiting; and I have just
+a few words to say to your mamma. Clara and Julia will therefore go
+upstairs with you.'</p>
+
+<p>All this was said kindly, but very decidedly: it was evident that there
+was no appeal to be made, no authority to be questioned; and with hardly
+suppressed passion and tears, the vanquished girl quitted the room with
+her sister and cousin.</p>
+
+<p>'And now, my dear Ada,' said Miss Livesay to her sister, 'see what are
+the fruits of your over-indulgence, or want of firmness! They are not
+very lovely, are they? Will you not take your good husband's advice, and
+strive against this constitutional weakness, which is so detri<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>mental to
+your happiness, to your husband's comfort, and to your children's
+welfare?'</p>
+
+<p>'I can't be always scolding the children, Mary,' replied Mrs. Ellis,
+peevishly. 'It isn't my fault, surely, that Mabel is so ill-tempered and
+disobedient, and yet you and Arthur just talk to me as if it were.'</p>
+
+<p>'And in a great measure, I think, it is your fault, my sister,' said the
+kind monitor. 'Children should be watched from infancy; tenderly cared
+for in mind as well as body. Good seed must be sown then, and the little
+weeds which we are apt to disregard, or what is worse, cherish, in our
+folly, must be rooted out while the soil is moist, and the root is not
+deep in the ground. Never laugh at childish exhibitions of temper, nor
+for the sake of <i>peace</i> give way to the doctrine of <i>expediency</i>,
+injurious alike to nations and to families.'</p>
+
+<p>Here poor Mrs. Ellis interposed; she could never sit out a long sermon,
+especially one that she really could not understand. So she interrupted
+Aunt Mary's profitable discourse by promising to try, when Mabel had
+gone away, to be more careful for the future, though she candidly
+admitted that she did not know how to begin to make any change, as Mabel
+was the only one of the children who gave her any trouble. And yet the
+weeds were growing up thick and strong in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> Master Freddy, who just then
+put his head in at the door, the little ones being behind him, and all
+running to salute their aunt, and receiving from her a loving embrace,
+as well as the very pretty playthings which were spread out on the table
+for their acceptance and admiration. Nor had Mabel and Julia been
+forgotten by their aunt; both a workbox and a writing-case were laid
+aside for the latter: those intended for her sister Miss Livesay had not
+brought, thinking it unnecessary, as Mabel was to return with her to Oak
+Villa.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, my dear Mabel,' said Aunt Mary, as the two girls entered the
+room; 'so you are equipped and ready for a start, I see. I do hope you
+will like your new mode of life, and your young companion's society.
+Clara, I know, will be delighted to have a companion in her visits to
+our poor people: and you, I trust, will soon learn to take an interest
+in them.'</p>
+
+<p>There was no response to this kind speech from the unamiable girl; and
+with the somewhat painful feeling on the part of Miss Livesay that she
+was going to introduce into her hitherto peaceful household the apple of
+discord, she rose to take leave, with the promise, however, of renewing
+her visit in the next week if all things went on well.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel was quick enough to notice this speech:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> she would have known that
+it had reference to herself, even if it had not been accompanied by a
+smile and a nod from her aunt; and the naughty pride in her heart made
+her resent it, though she felt obliged to submit.</p>
+
+<p>There were loving adieus from all but Master Freddy, who said to his
+sister, as she shook hands with him:</p>
+
+<p>'Good-bye, Mabel; I'm glad you're going, you are always so cross with
+us.'</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>NIGHT AND MORNING.</h3>
+
+
+<p>And now an entirely new mode of life was presented to Mabel; and Miss
+Livesay found, as, indeed, she had expected to find, a fruitful source
+of trouble in her newly adopted pupil. Of course, on the first day of
+Mabel's arrival at Oak Villa there were no lessons talked about, and the
+young ladies next door were not expected to resume their school duties,
+until the Monday following Miss Livesay's return home; so there was a
+little time afforded for breaking <i>out</i>, and breaking <i>in</i>. We shall see
+how it was employed.</p>
+
+<p>This afternoon had been a very pleasant one; the chickens had been
+looked at and greatly admired; flowers, the great favourites both of
+aunt and niece, Mabel did not care for, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> she liked, as we have
+seen, to deck herself in gay colours. In the house they had plenty of
+amusement, with books and pretty specimens of work of various kinds from
+the ready fingers and artistic taste of Aunt Mary and Clara; indeed,
+what had been produced by their skill, industry, and steady
+perseverance, was worthy of admiration. To Mabel's astonishment, nine
+o'clock struck, and she had not yet finished her pleasant occupation of
+examining, when her aunt said:</p>
+
+<p>'Now, my dears, it is your bed-time.'</p>
+
+<p>Clara instantly began to put away books and work, but Mabel exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, aunt! must we go to bed so soon? I never go till ten, at home!'</p>
+
+<p>'Perhaps you never rise at six in the morning?' replied Miss Livesay;
+'we do. And I dare say you have heard the old proverb&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'"Early to bed, and early to rise,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Is the way to be healthy, wealthy, and wise."'</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>'I go to bed when I like, and I get up when I like, at home,' said
+Mabel, without noticing the unwelcome quotation.</p>
+
+<p>'<i>We</i> have no <i>likes</i> and <i>dislikes</i> here, my dear Mabel,' said her
+aunt. 'We do what we know to be our duty, and you will have to do the
+same. Good-night!'</p>
+
+<p>An affectionate kiss accompanied the <i>good-night</i>; Mabel saw that it was
+a <i>decided</i> one;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> there was no room for further parley, and the short
+time spent by the proud and petulant girl at Oak Villa gave signs of an
+authority, to which she must of necessity submit, as from it there could
+be no appeal.</p>
+
+<p>'Mabel dear, it is time to get up; don't you hear the bell ringing?'
+said Clara, as she jumped out of bed and began to dress. The
+sleepy-headed girl turned lazily round, but did not seem to be at all
+disposed to attend to the summons.</p>
+
+<p>'You <i>must</i> get up; indeed you must!' urged Clara, gently shaking her
+cousin by the shoulder. 'I shall not have done all I have to do before
+prayers, if we don't make haste.'</p>
+
+<p>'Why, what have we to do before breakfast? And what time do you have
+breakfast?' drowsily inquired Mabel, rising, however, at this second
+appeal of her cousin's.</p>
+
+<p>'We have prayers at eight, then breakfast; but I have my chickens to
+feed, and my lessons to prepare before that time,' said Clara.</p>
+
+<p>'Lessons before breakfast! Oh, I shall hate that!' exclaimed Mabel. 'I
+hope they are not hard ones, for I shall never learn them if they are.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I don't know what you call hard,' replied her cousin. 'I find
+mine rather difficult sometimes, but Aunt Mary is so kind in explaining
+everything, that it is quite a pleasure to learn with her.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'I'm sure I shouldn't think her kind,' said the ungrateful Mabel. 'I
+can't bear people that are so prim and stiff as Aunt Mary is, always
+seeming determined to make you do just what they like, whether you wish
+it or not.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Mabel!' said her cousin, 'I wonder how you can speak so
+disrespectfully of dear Aunt Mary; and what you are saying is quite
+untrue.'</p>
+
+<p>'And I suppose,' retorted the ill-conditioned girl, 'you will go and
+tell her what I have said, and we shall have a row.'</p>
+
+<p>Clara was so astonished at hearing this speech from her cousin, that she
+suspended the operation of dressing for a moment.</p>
+
+<p>Then she said quickly:</p>
+
+<p>'Mabel, we don't tell tales here; and I never before heard anyone speak
+unkindly of our aunt, nor did I ever hear her speak unkindly to anyone.
+Don't let us talk any more,' she added; 'I am going to say my prayers.
+Come, kneel down with me, and let us thank our Father in heaven for
+taking care of us through the night, and ask Him to bless us before we
+begin our day's work.'</p>
+
+<p>Mabel knelt down beside the bed with her cousin. She had always been
+accustomed to repeat a set form of words; whether they were the
+utterances of the 'soul's sincere desire,' we cannot say: but we do know
+that if we <i>pray</i> in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> sincerity against sin, we shall <i>strive</i> against
+it, and Mabel was not doing this. Clara's first occupation on going down
+stairs was to look after her feathered family; and in this she had a
+ready seconder in Mabel, whose delight in seeing the pretty chickens was
+unbounded.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, do let me take one out, Clara! I won't hurt it; dear, sweet little
+thing!' she exclaimed, as she was just putting out her hand to take one
+of them up, but was held back by her cousin, and so prevented from
+receiving the meditated peck which the old hen was evidently preparing
+for her.</p>
+
+<p>'Just in time,' said Clara; 'old Netty would have made you repent of
+your boldness, had you taken hold of one of her pets.'</p>
+
+<p>'Why, I shouldn't have hurt it by just holding it in my hand,' replied
+Mabel.</p>
+
+<p>'Netty doesn't know that; and I'm sure she would have hurt you, so it is
+very well I held you back,' said Clara. 'Now we had better go in; I hear
+Aunt Mary's voice. I must go and say good-morning to her, as usual.'</p>
+
+<p>'Good-morning, my dears,' said Miss Livesay, in her usual genial, happy
+tone of voice, for she was always bright and cheerful, though her niece
+Mabel chose to take such a distorted view of her. 'I hope you have slept
+well, and are refreshed for another day's work, my children; you both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>
+look the picture of health, and health is one of our greatest blessings,
+is it not?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, dear aunt, indeed it is,' replied Clara. 'I think we both slept
+well; and I was so glad to see, when I woke, that the morning was fine,
+for I thought perhaps you would wish us to go and see how poor Mr.
+Simmons is, when we have done our lessons.'</p>
+
+<p>'That is just what I wish you to do,' said Aunt Mary. 'The lessons I
+intend to postpone, except that you may show your cousin what you and
+your school-fellows are learning. I shall be delighted to find that you
+can all study together; it will save much time and trouble, and be much
+more agreeable. Now ring for Bridget; after prayers and breakfast, we
+must cut out our work, dear Clara. You know we have a great deal to do,'
+said the lady.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>THE FIRST DAY'S WORK.</h3>
+
+
+<p>IN the pleasant breakfast-room, which was also a schoolroom, the two
+girls were left by Aunt Mary, while she gave some orders on household
+matters. Everything was arranged here with order and neatness, but there
+was nothing superfluous; there was a place for everything,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> and
+everything seemed to be in its place, if we except a large quantity of
+unbleached calico, which had been unrolled, and had spread itself upon
+the floor.</p>
+
+<p>'What is all that coarse stuff for?' inquired Mabel of her cousin. 'You
+surely don't call that your work, do you, Clara? I brought some
+embroidery with me, for I hate plain work. I hope aunt will not set me
+to do any.'</p>
+
+<p>'I am quite sure she will, though,' replied Clara; 'and this very day,
+too; for she is going to cut out two night-shirts for the poor man we
+are going to see, and we shall have to make them, as well as pinafores
+for the children, and flannel petticoats for two old women who are in
+Aunt Mary's district. Oh, such nice old dames they are, Mabel! I am sure
+you will like them, dear; and they are so thankful for any little
+kindness we do for them.'</p>
+
+<p>'Such stupid, humdrum work!' exclaimed Mabel. 'I'm sure I shall be
+miserable here. Hard lessons, coarse work, and looking after old and
+sick people! I wonder you are not moped to death, Clara; it's even worse
+than I thought it would be.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, wait a little while,' said patient Clara; 'you have had no
+experience yet. I know very well you will alter your mind before six
+months are over.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Six months!' exclaimed Mabel; 'why, I should be dead in that time, if
+mamma suffers me to remain here. But I shall tell her all about it, and
+beg her to let me go home.'</p>
+
+<p>The entrance of Aunt Mary broke off the dialogue of the cousins, and
+soon the obnoxious calico was spread out, and fashioned into useful
+articles of wearing apparel.</p>
+
+<p>'Here is your new workbox, my dear Mabel,' said her aunt; 'you will find
+it stocked with all necessary things&mdash;thimble, and scissors, and
+needles, and cotton&mdash;and all that I require of you is to keep it tidy.'</p>
+
+<p>It was impossible for Mabel not to dismiss <i>some</i>, at least, of her
+foolish prejudice against this kind friend, and the thanks she returned
+for the really handsome present were hearty and genuine; and on fitting
+on her thimble, and examining the bright scissors and the very pretty
+needle, even her feelings respecting the coarse work on which they were
+expected to be employed appeared to undergo a wonderful change.</p>
+
+<p>'I can't do plain work very quickly, aunt,' said Mabel, when that lady
+had given her a pair of sleeves to make; 'I never did much at home.'</p>
+
+<p>'All right, my child; if you do your best, I promise you I shall be
+satisfied. I know you will improve in time,' said Aunt Mary, kindly.</p>
+
+<p>There was no reading this morning, because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> Clara and Aunt Mary, who
+were both rapid seamstresses, had agreed, if possible, to finish the
+night-shirt that had been cut out, and take it with them in the evening,
+when they went to call at the cottage of poor Simmons, whom they had not
+seen since their return home, but of whom they had learned from Bridget
+a pretty satisfactory account. The good woman had taken them under her
+especial care while her mistress was away.</p>
+
+<p>There was no lack of pleasant conversation when Aunt Mary was in the
+room, and the work progressed well during the morning hours; but,
+unfortunately, about three o'clock in the afternoon some friends came to
+call, and as it was evident to Miss Livesay that this would prevent
+their visit to the cottage that evening, she bade the young people put
+away their work, and try to find some amusement in the garden. Clara
+felt sorry and disappointed at this postponement, though she said
+nothing, but prepared to obey her aunt. With Mabel, however, this was
+quite an unexpected pleasure, and so rapidly did she gather up her work,
+without folding it neatly together, that the needle ran into her finger,
+and brought the blood so quickly that two or three large spots were
+deposited on the sleeves.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, aunt will be so cross when she sees what I have done!' said the too
+hasty Mabel. 'Must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> I try to wash the spots out, Clara?' she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>'No, no!' replied her cousin; 'Bridget will do that for you with a
+little brush. But I wonder, Mabel,' she added, 'at your thinking dear
+aunt would be <i>cross</i> because you have had an accident. You seem to have
+some very strange ideas in your head; you will know better soon, I
+hope.'</p>
+
+<p>The room was quickly cleared, and Clara, taking the soiled sleeve in her
+hand, went with her cousin into the kitchen, where they found the tidy
+servant-of-all-work already clean, and sitting comfortably with her
+knitting in hand, and the cat on her knee. Bridget readily undertook the
+task required of her; and the young people, having obtained the food for
+the poultry, ran off to distribute it.</p>
+
+<p>A capital house Clara's feathered family had, with no rent nor taxes to
+pay. It was a long shed under the tall trees at the bottom of the
+garden, boarded over at the top, but with wire-work all across the
+front, where a door was made to go in at, in order to clean out the
+floor.</p>
+
+<p>Inside, it was the picture of comfort, and of cleanliness too, for
+careful Bridget took care of that. Old Netty and her chicks had a place
+to themselves&mdash;a house within a house&mdash;so that the little ones could not
+make an escape.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I see there are two new-laid eggs,' said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> Clara. 'I am so glad; we
+can take them to poor Simmons when we go to-morrow. I dare say there are
+two or three more in the house that I may have.'</p>
+
+<p>'I thought you said the fowls were your own, to do what you liked with,'
+said Mabel. 'If I were you, I should sell the eggs, and not give them
+away,' she added.</p>
+
+<p>'And what should I do with the money?' inquired Clara. 'I have
+everything I want; aunt takes care of that.'</p>
+
+<p>'But you might buy nice gloves and neckties with the money you would get
+for the eggs,' urged Mabel. 'I don't see that you have much of that sort
+of thing.'</p>
+
+<p>'I have all that I want in that way,' replied her cousin. 'I would ten
+times rather give away the eggs than take money for them. When I first
+came to live with dear aunt, she had this place fitted up on purpose for
+me; and she bought the fowls, and food, and everything that was wanted,'
+said Clara. 'In three months' time I had a beautiful brood of chickens;
+and when they were grown, aunt asked me what I meant to do with my
+surplus stock. I said that I really did not know; so she suggested that
+I should sell the chickens, and give the money to the poor. "Sell that
+ye have, and give alms," said my aunt. "This, dear Clara, is our
+Saviour's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> advice," she added, and I was only too glad and thankful to
+follow her advice. So I made a purse, in which I save up my
+egg-and-chicken money, and we buy calico, and print, and flannel, and
+provide other things,' said Clara, in great glee, for it was, indeed,
+one of her chief sources of pleasure to give to the poor.</p>
+
+<p>'I'm sure you would not catch me doing in that way,' said Mabel. 'I see
+no fun in keeping fowls only for the sake of giving to other people.'</p>
+
+<p>'No <i>fun</i>, perhaps,' replied her cousin; 'but you would find real
+pleasure, Mabel, in being able to relieve the wants of the sick and the
+afflicted. Oh, I know,' she added, 'you will&mdash;you <i>must</i> change your
+mind when you go with us to some of the neighbouring cottages. I do hope
+we shall not be prevented from going to-morrow.'</p>
+
+<p>Whatever effect time and scenes were to have on our young friend Mabel,
+certainly her cousin's arguments and declarations produced none at the
+present; so we must close the chapter of the first day, and begin
+another.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>VISIT TO THE COTTAGE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>The evening of this first day at Oak Villa had been very pleasantly
+spent by Aunt Mary and her nieces at Mr. Maitland's, where the young
+people engaged themselves on the lawn, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> the elders talked over the
+various events of the very eventful times, without being able to come to
+any conclusion as to how they were to be mended.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel either really <i>was</i> in a very gracious humour this evening, or the
+fact of a young gentleman being of their party made her careful not to
+give way to temper; though it must be confessed that Harry tried it two
+or three times. However, all went on smoothly enough, and at nine
+o'clock the friends separated.</p>
+
+<p>The gorgeous sunset gave token of a fine day on the morrow, when Clara
+anticipated the pleasure of finishing her labour of love, and taking a
+most acceptable present to her poor friends the Simmonses. The bell rang
+at the usual time in the morning, and after breakfast the work of the
+day before was resumed.</p>
+
+<p>'Two hours, I think, will finish what you want to take with you to-day,'
+said Aunt Mary, 'so you will have time to go before dinner. You can take
+poor Simmons some eggs, and Bridget has a rice pudding in the oven for
+the children.'</p>
+
+<p>'How delighted they will be to see us again; only I wish you could have
+gone with us, aunt,' said Clara.</p>
+
+<p>'I wish I could have done so, but I expect a person to call on business
+this morning, so I must not be out of the way,' said the lady.</p>
+
+<p>Steadily the work progressed; even Mabel,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> by the aid of her bright
+silver thimble and sharp needle, seemed to get on better than she had
+done the day before: so that not only was the night-shirt finished, but
+a little pinafore had been cut out and completed in less than the two
+hours. And now all had been packed up, the two girls were ready for
+their walk; and the careful Bridget had placed the pudding and the eggs
+in an oval basket for Clara to carry, while they were preparing for
+their walk.</p>
+
+<p>'It will be frightfully hot walking this morning, I know,' said Mabel.
+'I wish our visit to the cottage could be put off until the evening; go
+and ask Aunt Mary if it may, Clara,' she added.</p>
+
+<p>'No, I couldn't do that,' replied her cousin. 'Aunt never tells us to do
+anything that is unreasonable, and I know that she wishes very much that
+the children should have the pudding for their dinner, and that the poor
+sick man should have the new-laid eggs. Come, Mabel dear, be quick,' she
+added; 'we shall be under the shade of the trees great part of the way.'</p>
+
+<p>'And who is to carry the basket and this parcel?' inquired Mabel, giving
+a rather contemptuous look at the rolled-up work.</p>
+
+<p>'You may carry whichever you like,' said Clara; 'it does not matter to
+me which I take. Indeed, I shouldn't mind if I had to carry both,
+neither of them are heavy.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Perhaps not,' said the proud girl, 'but it is so servant-like to be
+carrying parcels and baskets; I wonder Aunt Mary likes you to do it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Mabel!' cried her cousin, 'I can't help laughing at you. Why, you
+should see what bundles aunt and I do carry sometimes. I suppose you
+would be quite shocked.'</p>
+
+<p>'I shouldn't wish to be seen with you,' replied the silly girl. 'I don't
+think, either, that it is any laughing matter.' And Clara, knowing that
+it was a waste of time to argue the case any further, took up the
+obnoxious bundle, and ran downstairs; while Mabel followed, to find on
+the hall-table her share of the disagreeable, in the closely-packed
+basket.</p>
+
+<p>It really was a very hot walk that the cousins had before them, in spite
+of the occasional shade of the tall trees, and they were not at all
+sorry when they reached the small cottage of James Simmons, and were
+invited to sit and rest on the chairs, which the good wife dusted and
+put ready for them.</p>
+
+<p>The cottage was very poorly supplied with furniture&mdash;one table, and four
+chairs, and a stool, on which stood the washing-tub, out of which Mrs.
+Simmons was wringing some clothes from very hot water, when her visitors
+entered. If, however, there was but little furniture, there was no lack
+of children, and three of them were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> rolling about the floor, while a
+girl, it might be of the age of seven, was making an attempt to wash
+some stockings. Her small fingers did not seem to be equal to the task
+of rubbing and wringing, yet she was evidently proud of her
+occupation&mdash;a great deal more so than her brother appeared of his, in
+trying to take care of the youngest child, a chubby infant of six months
+old, who would persist in rolling off his knee, and making towards the
+fireplace, there to become a regular Cinderella.</p>
+
+<p>This scene, I need hardly say, was anything but delightful to the new
+visitor, though she did not refuse to seat herself on the offered chair;
+while poor Mrs. Simmons, with many apologies for being found in such a
+rough state, wiped her hot face with her apron, and took the little one
+up from the floor, to the great relief of her brother Johnny, who
+appeared particularly interested in the contents of the basket, which
+Clara was proceeding to set upon the table.</p>
+
+<p>'Let me take the baby, Mrs. Simmons, while you put the eggs into a
+basin; I am afraid of their rolling off the table,' said Clara, as she
+held out her arms to take the very pretty, but certainly not very clean
+little one.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, miss! she is not in a fit state for you to nurse,' replied the
+woman; 'I am quite ashamed that you should have found us all so dirty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>
+but indeed I cannot help it. What with my husband being ill so long, and
+the washing, which must be done, I don't know sometimes which way to
+turn.'</p>
+
+<p>'My aunt wants much to know how your husband is,' said Clara; 'she would
+have come with us this morning, but she had an engagement.'</p>
+
+<p>'The doctor thinks, miss, that my husband may get well, though he says
+it may be many weeks yet before he will be able to walk. He has had a
+weary time of it, and if it had not been for Miss Livesay's kindness,
+and that of our good vicar and his wife, I think he could not have
+lived; for he required more nourishment than I could obtain for him, if
+I worked ever so hard.'</p>
+
+<p>'I know how glad my aunt will be to hear this good news,' said Clara;
+'and she has sent one of the night-shirts that we have made; I dare say
+she will bring the other herself. And now let me try on the pinafore for
+baby; I want to see whether it will fit.' Baby, however, stoutly
+resisted this trial, using arms and legs with marvellous dexterity, and
+almost twisting herself out of mother's arms; so the contest was given
+up for fear of creating a noise, which would have disturbed the invalid:
+while Clara's second suggestion, that baby should have some pudding,
+appeared to give entire satisfaction, and produced perfect calm, under
+which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> state of things the visitors rose to go, Mabel not having
+exchanged a word either with mother or children the whole time, and
+standing on the threshold of the door, waiting for her cousin, who was
+shaking hands with Mrs. Simmons, and bestowing a parting kiss on the red
+round cheeks of the now smiling baby.</p>
+
+<p>The young people walked on a short distance in silence; each had their
+own peculiar thoughts of the other. Mabel was the first to break calm.
+Then she said: 'How you could kiss that dirty little thing and offer to
+nurse it, I can't conceive, Clara; it quite sickens me to think of it,'
+said Mabel, with something like a shudder. 'I wonder Aunt Mary sends us
+to such places; it is work for Bridget to do, and not for us,' she
+continued. 'I don't think my mamma would approve of my going.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, you are mistaken there, I know,' said Clara; 'for I have often
+heard aunt tell of the poor people your mamma and she used to visit,
+before Aunt Ada married&mdash;yes, and for a long time after she was married,
+until she was poorly, and then of course she was obliged to give up; but
+I'm quite sure she will be glad to hear of your doing the same. Now we
+must make haste, for fear we should be too late for dinner.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>A CATASTROPHE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>It was not a very pleasant trio that sat at the table the morning after
+the visit to the cottage. If Mabel had disliked the coarse work on which
+she had been employed the day before, her repugnance to the examination
+to which she was subjected by Aunt Mary, in order to test the
+capabilities of her niece, and to find out what lessons would be most
+appropriate for her, showed itself so plainly in fits of sullenness, or
+tears of vexation, that even Miss Livesay herself could not help
+feeling-dispirited; while Clara, though she tried to think only of her
+lessons, felt very much disposed to shed tears on her aunt's account.
+More than once, indeed, a subdued expression of rage escaped from the
+irritated Mabel; but it was so instantly and authoritatively checked by
+her aunt, that Mabel was made to feel that it would be useless for her
+to contend: so she sat and pored over her book in sullen silence.</p>
+
+<p>This lasted until near dinner-time, so that the results of this
+morning's work, so far as Mabel was concerned, had been anything but
+satisfactory when the books were put away; and it was with very painful
+feelings that Miss Livesay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> contemplated not only the drudgery she would
+be subjected to, in having to go through <i>early lessons</i> with this
+refractory niece of hers (who was far, very far behind both Clara and
+the Maitlands in her learning), but the conflict she was likely to
+encounter with pride and obstinacy, evils she never before had to
+contend with.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary, however, was not one to give way to despondency, and at the
+dinner-table she had resumed all her usual cheerfulness; nor did she
+make the least difference in her manners to her nieces, but chatted with
+them both, as if nothing had occurred to disturb her serenity.</p>
+
+<p>The mornings at Oak Villa were always devoted to lessons; in the
+afternoon there were two hours spent in work and reading; then the day's
+duties were finished, if we except the looking over the lessons for the
+following day, which Clara never omitted doing. And on this day she had
+a scheme in her head, both for doing Mabel good, and saving her dear
+aunt trouble.</p>
+
+<p>In short, she determined, if possible, to induce her cousin to exert
+herself in learning extra lessons, in order to overtake the young
+Maitlands and herself.</p>
+
+<p>She thought, perhaps, that the very pride in the young girl's
+composition would aid her in this task, and in this she was not
+mistaken. Mabel this afternoon was permitted to do some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> of the work she
+had brought from home; and what with this indulgence, and the clever and
+amusing book her aunt had been reading to them, she had quite recovered
+her spirits, and was as lively and cheerful as possible.</p>
+
+<p>'Isn't it time to feed the fowls, Clara?' inquired Mabel, when work and
+books were laid aside.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, dear, it is,' replied her cousin; 'but I should be obliged if you
+would feed them for me to-day, as Aunt Mary wants me to write a letter
+to dear mamma before post-time.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I shall be glad to do so, very glad!' said Mabel, who had her own
+motives for the alacrity she displayed.</p>
+
+<p>'Must I ask Bridget for the corn?' she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>'I dare say you will find it set ready on the kitchen table; Bridget
+never forgets,' said Clara, as she arranged her desk and writing
+materials.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel ran off in great glee, and was soon busily engaged in her very
+agreeable task; yet in spite of her endeavours, she found that it was
+impossible to give satisfaction to all her feathered friends. Some were
+too greedy, and would insist upon having more than their share, while
+others were not courageous enough to stand up for their rights, and so
+were easily repulsed, and came very badly off in the general scramble,
+notwithstanding Mabel's spirited attempts to make an equitable
+distribution. At last she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> got tired of trying to teach manners to the
+cock and hens, so she went to look after the pets, as she called the
+chickens. These, as we have before stated, had with their mother a
+separate establishment, and so they were permitted to peck their grains
+in peace, being in no danger of losing their share; though even among
+these tiny things there were contentions for a single grain, which
+perhaps three or four would strive after. As Mabel stood watching and
+admiring the little downy creatures, the desire came strongly over her,
+as it had done before, to take one up in her hand.</p>
+
+<p>'What harm could I do the little creature by just holding it in my hand
+for a minute?' said Mabel. 'And as to the old hen pecking at me, I don't
+care for that; and I dare say,' she added, 'Clara only told me this to
+frighten me.'</p>
+
+<p>As Mabel made this very unjust remark concerning her cousin, she opened
+the small door in the wire-work, and put her hand in to seize one of the
+chicks; but she was saluted with such a terribly hard peck from Dame
+Netty, that, had she not been very determined in the matter, she would
+have let the little chick go. Unfortunately for the little creature, her
+captor was very determined, and in spite of the hard peck, and the
+struggles of the bird, she took it out, and was in the act of shutting
+to the door, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> the soft trembling thing slipped out of her hand, and
+fluttered away to its own destruction.</p>
+
+<p>Yes, there on the wall, slyly watching all that had been going on, and
+with as great a desire after the chicken as Mabel herself had, though
+for a vastly different purpose, sat the fine sleek cat, to whom my young
+readers have before been introduced, and quick as lightning she pounced
+down upon the poor chick, and carried it off.</p>
+
+<p>This was a terrible catastrophe, and Mabel stood for a moment in bitter
+dismay; she did not know what to do&mdash;how should she? The cat had
+disappeared, and by this time the poor chicken was killed, and perhaps
+eaten. Should she tell Clara? no, that would never do, for it would be
+sure to come to Aunt Mary's ears. It was not the first scrape that Mabel
+had got into, and we are sorry to add got out of by dissimulation; and
+now, after a little further consideration, she came to the unwise
+conclusion that it would be better to say nothing about the matter.
+After all, it was only one chick out of twelve; it perhaps would not be
+missed. And though she was sorry that the poor little thing had been
+killed, she solaced herself with the idea that there would soon be a
+fresh brood to attract her cousin's attention.</p>
+
+<p>Comforting herself with this idea, she walked into the dining-room,
+where she found the tea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> ready, and was soon joined by her aunt and
+cousin, who had finished their correspondence, and were now at liberty
+to take their evening walk as soon as the pleasant meal was ended.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>A VISIT TO THE VICARAGE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>During tea-time, Aunt Mary proposed a walk to the vicarage, as she
+wanted to ask Mr. Newlove's opinion of the state of poor Simmons, as
+well as to inquire after the welfare of some of her pensioners, whom she
+had not yet had time to visit since her return home. The proposal
+pleased Clara, with whom the gentle Newlove was an especial favourite;
+though Mabel had conceived a dislike that she could give no reason for,
+to this quiet, sensible, and affectionate girl.</p>
+
+<p>It was with very different feelings that the cousins went upstairs to
+dress. Mabel, we must suppose, thought that as she was going to a
+clergyman's house, she should have to listen to a sermon; or if not
+that, to sit still, and say nothing, while the seniors talked about sick
+folks, and old men and women, till she should be quite wearied out; and
+this was certainly no pleasant prospect for a lively young lady. But
+Mabel said nothing of all this; as usual, her conversation turned on
+what she should wear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Are you not going to change your dress, Clara?' said her cousin; 'you
+are surely not going to the vicarage in that dowdy-looking frock? Why,
+it is only fit to wear in the mornings, or to go visiting to dirty
+cottages, such as we went to yesterday.'</p>
+
+<p>'Now don't let us talk about dress,' said Clara; 'my frock is what Aunt
+Mary bought for me, and if she thinks it good enough for me to wear, I'm
+sure I do too. Besides, Mabel, you are very much mistaken if you think
+that Mr. or Mrs. Newlove would notice your dress, unless, indeed, it
+were a very smart one, such as I know they wouldn't like.'</p>
+
+<p>'Then I shan't care for <i>their</i> likes, but I shall just put on what <i>I
+like</i> myself,' said the graceless girl, as she took from her drawer a
+very pretty printed muslin, and proceeded to array herself in it,
+finishing off by donning a little black hat with a white feather in it.</p>
+
+<p>'Now, suppose it should rain,' suggested Clara, 'what becomes of your
+pretty frock and your white feather?'</p>
+
+<p>'There is not the least likelihood of rain,' replied Mabel; 'I never saw
+a finer evening;' and away she ran downstairs, but taking care to avoid
+a meeting with her aunt until they were all ready to start.</p>
+
+<p>It was indeed a lovely evening for a walk.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> It had been very hot at one
+time of the day, but there had been a thunder-shower in the afternoon,
+which had cooled the air, and given freshness of colouring to the
+surrounding vegetation, deepening the tints on flower and shrub and
+tree, while,</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'The ling'ring sun seem'd loth to leave</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Landskip so fair, to gentle eve.'</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary, though of course she noticed the difference in the dresses of
+her nieces, said nothing about it; but kept up, as she usually did, a
+conversation both amusing and instructive. Even Mabel forgot her fine
+clothes in listening to her aunt, and for the present seemed to be
+thrown out of self. Such a charm is there in wise teaching.</p>
+
+<p>Nor when they reached the pretty, secluded vicarage, and were heartily
+welcomed by its inmates, were the fears of Mabel at all likely to be
+realised, as instead of having to listen to a sermon, or details of old
+and sick people, she and Clara were walked off by Robert and Edith
+Newlove, to see the rabbits, and the ringdoves, and the poultry in their
+respective habitations.</p>
+
+<p>'How beautiful they are&mdash;- how very beautiful!' said Clara, speaking of
+the ringdoves; 'and so gentle too&mdash;they don't fight and squabble like my
+hens do over a few grains of wheat.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, they can peck one another sometimes,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> said Edith; 'but they are
+not noisy about it like the fowls.'</p>
+
+<p>'And my rabbits are not at all noisy either,' said Robert; 'but the buck
+can be very cruel, for if we don't take care he makes nothing of eating
+up one or two of the little ones.'</p>
+
+<p>'Horrid creatures!' said Mabel. 'I shall never like rabbits again; it is
+quite shocking.'</p>
+
+<p>'It would indeed be quite shocking if they knew better,' replied Robert;
+'but they don't, so we must try to prevent them from acting cruelly. And
+after all,' he added, 'it is not half so bad as boys and girls doing
+wrong when they know better; yet we should not say of them that we
+should never like them again, should we, Miss Mabel?'</p>
+
+<p>'No, I suppose not,' said the conscience stricken girl, as she found
+herself standing before the fowls' house, which was the very model of
+Clara's, and indeed had been made by the same industrious hands, namely
+those of poor Simmons, who was now, and had been for months, lying on
+the bed of languishing.</p>
+
+<p>'You see the fowls are all gone to roost,' said Edith; 'the dear little
+chicks are under their mother's wing. I do wish you could have seen
+them; there are ten such beauties!'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I have got twelve,' cried Clara; 'and in a few days' time I expect
+we shall have twelve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> more, if Dame Partlet is as fortunate as Netty. Do
+come and see them, Edith dear, next week. Think what a family I, or
+rather Aunt, will have to provide for&mdash;twenty-four!'</p>
+
+<p>This was indeed not only counting the chickens before they were hatched,
+but not counting on misfortunes to those that were already hatched, and
+Mabel did not feel at all comfortable at the turn the conversation had
+taken; she was not sorry, therefore, when the servant came to say that
+Miss Livesay thought it time to go home.</p>
+
+<p>Of course the summons was immediately obeyed, and with very kind adieus,
+the friends, old and young, separated; Aunt Mary observing that 'they
+must walk rather quicker in returning home than they had in coming, as
+there were some stormy-looking clouds hanging overhead.'</p>
+
+<p>The mention of clouds and showers turned Mabel's attention to her dress,
+which, to say the truth, she had forgotten; and no wonder, as no one had
+taken the slightest notice of it, though the foolish girl had been at
+such trouble to make herself attractive. The mention of clouds and rain
+brought back Mabel's thoughts to the delicate frock and the new hat. She
+and Clara were a little in advance of their aunt, who had stopped for a
+moment to place a trifle in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> Mr. Newlove's hand for a very poor
+parishioner of his, of whom they had been talking.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, do let us run!' cried Mabel, as she looked up, and noticed the
+gathering clouds; 'perhaps we may get home before it begins to rain, if
+we make haste.'</p>
+
+<p>'But Aunt Mary can't run,' replied Clara, 'and I am sure I shall not
+leave her; so you will have to run by yourself, Mabel, if you do go.'</p>
+
+<p>'I'm not going to have my dress spoiled,' said the excited girl, as she
+gathered up her pretty skirt, and commenced to walk very rapidly at
+first; but as her fears increased from feeling, as she thought, a drop
+of rain, the rapid walking turned into a run, not quick enough, however,
+to bring her to the desired haven before the threatened shower
+descended, and, in spite of her exertion, seemed likely to drench her to
+the skin before she could arrive at Oak Villa. There had been trees in
+the way home, under which she might have found shelter if she had not
+been in such a violent hurry. Now it was too late for Mabel, though
+Clara and her aunt were actually at the time standing secure beneath the
+leafy screen; not certainly in a very comfortable state of mind, for
+Miss Livesay knew that her niece could not have reached home before the
+drenching shower descended, and she felt very uneasy on her account.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'I do hope that Bridget will take care that Mabel changes all her
+clothes,' said Aunt Mary; 'she must be wet through if she has been out
+in the rain. The showers are so very heavy, though they do not last
+long.'</p>
+
+<p>'I think this shower is nearly over now; do you think we may venture to
+go, aunt?' inquired Clara, who partook of her aunt's anxiety respecting
+her cousin.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, dear; we have nothing on to spoil. A few drops will not do us any
+harm, and I fancy we shall have another downpour if we wait longer.'</p>
+
+<p>This was Aunt Mary's decided opinion, and on the strength of it, the
+anxious pair set forward on their way home, which place they certainly
+would not have reached with dry clothing, had not careful Bridget
+suddenly made her appearance with cloaks and umbrellas.</p>
+
+<p>This was rather an uncomfortable ending to a pleasant evening, but life
+has ever its ups and downs, its sunlight and its shadows, for the young
+as well as for the old. So it has ever been, and so it will ever be to
+the end of time.</p>
+
+<p>It would have been well for Mabel Ellis if the spoiling of her dress had
+been the worst result of her foolish pride. And yet, perhaps, I ought
+not to say that it would not have been well had the trouble ended there.
+Adversity is a <i>very stern</i>, but a <i>very wise</i> teacher. We may not
+always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> see this to be so, and we may be very loth to acknowledge it,
+but it is a fact nevertheless. Aunt Mary's first thought, when she
+entered the house, was for Mabel, whom she found by the kitchen fire
+drying her petticoat, the muslin dress having been taken off, and hung
+over a chair.</p>
+
+<p>'Have you changed shoes and stockings, my dear?' was the first question,
+which was answered in the negative. But we will leave further details
+for the next chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>A SERIOUS ILLNESS.</h3>
+
+
+<p>As we have before stated, Mabel had only changed her upper garments.
+Stockings and shoes, though soaked through in coming along the wet
+grass, she had not thought of, and her wet petticoat steamed and smoked
+as she stood drying it by the kitchen fire.</p>
+
+<p>'Dear me! dear me!' exclaimed Aunt Mary; 'why did you not immediately
+take off all your wet clothes? Clara dear, go with Mabel upstairs, help
+her to undress and get into bed, and I will bring some warm tea up as
+soon as possible. I am quite distressed to see the state you are in, my
+dear,' she added.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel, though of course obliged to obey, went off very reluctantly,
+declaring all the time that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> she should be no worse for the wetting, and
+feeling far more concerned about the spoiling of her dress and her hat,
+than fearful of any consequence that might ensue from keeping on her wet
+clothes.</p>
+
+<p>The room in which the cousins slept opened into one that was occupied by
+their aunt, so that she could easily communicate with them if anything
+was the matter. Strict in requiring obedience to her commands, and in
+not permitting any of her rules to be disregarded, Miss Livesay was
+still a most loving and unselfish relative and friend, untiring in the
+kind attentions to the sick, ever glad and ready to relieve the needy,
+or to give a word of advice or sympathy when it was likely to be well
+received. All the household had retired to rest but herself; she had
+seen her dear children, as she often called Clara and Mabel, fast asleep
+in their separate little white beds, but she still felt anxiety on
+Mabel's account.</p>
+
+<p>'Poor, foolish girl,' said the kind aunt to herself, 'I wonder whether I
+shall ever be able to convince her of her folly. I cannot change her
+heart, but I will pray that it may be changed; and I will do everything
+in my power, both by example and precept, to show her that "Wisdom's
+ways are ways of pleasantness, and her paths peace."' As Miss Livesay
+said this, she once more went to look at the sleepers in the adjoining
+room. Clara lay pale, peaceful, and soundly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> asleep; but Mabel, though
+also asleep, looked flushed, and appeared restless.</p>
+
+<p>This, Aunt Mary thought, might arise from the hurry and agitation of
+running home so quickly; she did not wish to meet evils half-way, yet,
+on retiring from the room, she made up her mind to take another look at
+the sleeping girl during the night. This she accordingly did, but
+observing no fresh symptoms for alarm, she lay down again, and only
+waked when Clara came to tell her that Mabel complained of great pains
+in her limbs. This sad news completely awed the kind aunt, for she
+dreaded an attack of rheumatic fever, as Mabel's mamma had been a
+dreadful sufferer two years before from that very serious malady. As
+soon as possible, the doctor was sent for. Aunt Mary was no alarmist,
+and could herself have dealt with any ordinary complaint; but she wished
+to have the doctor's opinion, and, if possible, his decision, on the
+real nature of the illness from which her niece was suffering, in order
+that she might act with befitting caution, if there were any likelihood
+of infection.</p>
+
+<p>Clara sat disconsolate by the side of the pretty white bed, where her
+poor cousin lay with feverish head and aching limbs. The stricken girl
+was very quiet, except when she made an attempt to move, and then the
+pain caused her to utter a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> faint cry, which thrilled through Clara's
+kind heart; for she had never before been called upon to watch by a
+sick-bed.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, dear Mabel, I am so sorry for you,' said the affectionate
+child-nurse; 'I wish I could do anything to give you relief from your
+pains.'</p>
+
+<p>'Thank you, dear Clara,' said the poor girl, in a quiet, subdued tone,
+very unlike that of the preceding day; even in this short time
+reflection had been at work, conscience had not been inactive, for
+retribution seemed to have come so suddenly as a necessary consequence
+of wrongdoing.</p>
+
+<p>But the doctor is here now; we must not keep him waiting. A kind,
+fatherly, benevolent-looking man stands beside the bed of pain, on one
+side, and the loving, anxious aunt and cousin on the other.</p>
+
+<p>'You are quite right in your idea as to the nature of the complaint,
+dear madam,' said Dr. Madox. 'Your niece is suffering from an attack of
+rheumatic fever; a very sharp attack it appears to be, but it need not
+on that account be a long one, though, just now, it is impossible to
+predict. However, we will do all we can for her,' added the doctor,
+cheerfully; 'in the meantime, you know, of course, that there is no
+danger of infection, though I should advise the patient to be kept
+perfectly quiet.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This was indeed a very painful trial for all parties; but Aunt Mary felt
+that the hand that afflicts can also sustain. She knew, also, that pain
+and suffering and sorrow are often antidotes to the much more serious
+evils of pride and vanity and sinful tempers, and that, when they are
+submitted to patiently, they bring forth excellent fruits.</p>
+
+<p>'Let me nurse dear Mabel myself, aunt,' said Clara; 'I will do
+everything I can do for her night and day. Oh, I do hope she will soon
+be well again!'</p>
+
+<p>'And I <i>hope</i> so too, my dear Clara,' replied her aunt; 'but you must
+not think that you can attend to your cousin without help. You may of
+course remain with her for company; and this need not perhaps hinder
+your lessons, unless she should become very impatient, as is often the
+case with sufferers in this severe malady. But health, your health, my
+child, must be attended to; you must have air and exercise. And I fear
+that we shall all be required to lend a helping hand to the poor invalid
+should the fever greatly increase. I am just going to write to my
+sister, Mabel's mamma. I must be careful not to alarm her, in her weak
+state, as she is very nervous. You can return now to your cousin,'
+continued Aunt Mary, 'and be sure you do not leave her alone until I
+come to you. Ring for anything that is wanted.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And now for weeks and weeks, this same selfish, self-willed girl, Mabel
+Ellis, lay on the bed of pain and languishing, and I may add, I am
+rejoiced to say, on the bed of sincere repentance. Yes, the salutary
+lessons of adversity had not been taught in vain, for they were not
+transitory ones, they had taken deep root; while the Divine precepts and
+heavenly counsels, which she had heard daily from her most loving and
+tender nurses, sank deep into a heart out of which had been weeded, to
+make room for them, the rank and bitter weeds of pride and passion.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel Ellis was indeed an altered character, when able once more to sit
+up in the arm-chair; though so weak that she could scarcely speak above
+her breath, her looks of love and thankfulness, and the soft eyes often
+filled with glad tears, spoke most expressively to the hearts of her
+aunt and cousin, for they felt that their labour of love had not been in
+vain; and though all Aunt Mary's usual routine had been put aside, and
+for a time a new phase of life had been set before her, in this trial
+she could feel thankful.</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'The seeds of affliction and pain,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When the soil has been moistened with rain</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That flow'd from a penitent heart,</span><br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Into beauty, and fragrance will start.</span><br />
+<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Oh flowers of celestial birth!</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Though springing from clods of the earth,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">How rich are the odours ye shed</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O'er the couch where the languishing head</span><br />
+<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Is pillow'd in gentle repose,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Forgetting awhile its past woes;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then waking, the incense of praise,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With your odorous breathings, to raise.'</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>None but those who are recovering from a serious illness can conceive
+the feelings of gratitude and love which take possession of the heart
+when it is rightly disposed, what time the rod of affliction is removed.
+Mabel seemed to feel herself a new creature, and as she threw her arms
+round her cousin's neck, she gave expression to feelings of thankfulness
+and love for the kind attention she had received from her and from her
+aunt. She did not fail to lament bitterly the pride and sinful temper,
+which now appeared to her to have been the principal cause of all her
+trouble.</p>
+
+<p>It was while she was thus bitterly lamenting the past, and weeping on
+Clara's shoulder, that Aunt Mary came rather suddenly into the room and
+surprised them.</p>
+
+<p>'Come, my children,' said the kind lady, 'this will never do! Nurse and
+convalescent both in tears,' she added, for Clara was also weeping; 'I
+am afraid, dear Mabel, I shall have to dismiss your young attendant, and
+engage one with more judgment and with less sympathy.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Oh no, no, dear aunt,' was the ready response. '<i>I</i> will behave better,
+I assure you,' said Clara. 'Poor Mabel is weak, and a little thing makes
+her cry. She is only sorrowing now for the past; you will teach her, I
+know, to hope for the future.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, even while we sorrow, we must hope; hope is the great lightener of
+all trouble. Come, cheer up, my child,' said Aunt Mary; 'I have some
+pleasant news for you to-day. I have just had a letter from Camden
+Terrace, to say that your papa and mamma and Freddy are coming to see
+you this afternoon, and to drink tea with me. Ah, I see you can smile,
+and be glad. We must have no more tears to-day; entertain only thoughts
+of love and thankfulness.'</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>A FAMILY PARTY.</h3>
+
+
+<p>What a blessing it is to be possessed of a happy and cheerful
+disposition!</p>
+
+<p>And who so likely to have such blessing as those who not only <i>say</i> 'Our
+Father which art in Heaven,' but believing what they say, 'try to walk
+with Him in love, as dear children.' Such persons diffuse cheerfulness
+all around them; while on the contrary, those who are selfish and
+passionate, sow the seeds of trouble<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> and discontent broadcast around
+them. And pride&mdash;oh, that hateful sin&mdash;what have children to do with
+pride? Helpless and dependent as they are on parents or friends, what
+have they to be proud of? Nothing!</p>
+
+<p>Look at that curly-headed little boy, Freddy Ellis, who would be
+beautiful were it not for the disdainful curl on his upper lip, and the
+indignant expression in his eye when he has received some supposed
+affront. Listen to the passionate vehemence of his words when he is
+refused some indulgence which he has been teasing his mamma to grant
+him, though it would surely try your patience, as it has done mine, to
+hear the stamping and screaming that is going on just outside the
+parlour-door; and yet, for all this, Freddy receives no punishment. Oh
+no! 'It would break his spirit.' What absurd reasoning!</p>
+
+<p>Do we inquire from whom is this spirit, which has more of the <i>serpent</i>
+than the <i>dove</i>? The answer will be, 'It is <i>not</i> from the meek and
+lowly Saviour!'</p>
+
+<p>Oh parents, whoever you be, take care lest you foster the serpent that
+will diffuse its subtle poison over the cherished blossoms which you
+are, or <i>ought to be</i>, training for heaven, and leave a sting which may
+pierce your own hearts. One thing we may be sure of, that the faults
+which we, through negligence or weak indulgence, leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> unchecked in our
+children in early life, a wiser though severer hand than ours will use
+the rod of correction to eradicate. And can this really be <i>love</i>, that
+puts off the proper time of chastisement, knowing that it is likely to
+be doubled on that account? Alas, no!</p>
+
+<p>But I must crave pardon for sermonising, and return to the sick chamber,
+for Mabel's papa and mamma have come to pay their promised visit. Poor
+girl, she is so thin and pale that papa, who has only seen her twice
+during her illness, is quite shocked, and sitting down beside the
+arm-chair, declares that he can scarcely believe she is his once plump,
+rosy girl. Mamma has seen her often, and has shed many a tear over her
+suffering child; but still it was a comfort to her to know that Mabel
+was in such good hands. Sister Julia is also here, looking very
+sorrowful; but Aunt Mary says:</p>
+
+<p>'Now I am not going to permit anybody who draws a long face to remain in
+my nursery; so those who look as if they were preparing to cry, instead
+of to smile, must please take a walk in the garden, till they have
+recovered themselves. What say you, Freddy, to this?' inquired Aunt Mary
+of her little nephew, who stood looking on, not knowing seemingly
+whether he was expected to smile or to cry, though on hearing his aunt's
+cheery address, he came to the con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>clusion that it was not necessary for
+him to commence the disagreeable alternative, although it must be
+confessed he was a ready practitioner in yelling bouts.</p>
+
+<p>'I should like to go into the garden, aunt,' responded Freddy. 'I want
+to see Clara's hens and chickens; may I go now?'</p>
+
+<p>'No, not just now, dear,' replied his aunt; 'your cousin will go with
+you presently; she is engaged just at present, so you will have to
+wait.'</p>
+
+<p>This waiting, however, did not at all suit the impatient spirit of
+Master Fred, and on Aunt Mary's going out of the room he gave expression
+to his vexation.</p>
+
+<p>'Why can't I go into the garden by myself, I wonder?' he exclaimed
+passionately to his mamma, by whose chair he was standing. 'Aunt needn't
+think that I should hurt the fowls; it is very unkind of her.'</p>
+
+<p>All this was said in a subdued tone, that papa, who was talking with
+Mabel, might not hear.</p>
+
+<p>'Hush, hush, Freddy!' said his mother; 'your Aunt Mary is never unkind:
+you should not say such things of her.'</p>
+
+<p>'But <i>I</i> think she is very unkind,' repeated the boy emphatically, as if
+what he said must settle the point; but it only drew the attention of
+his papa, who inquired what the vehement talking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> was about, and
+threatened severe punishment if any of Fred's tempers were exhibited at
+Oak Villa.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't check the poor child so harshly,' said unwise mamma; 'he only
+wants his aunt to let him go and see the fowls. And really I think she
+might let him go, for he could do no harm.'</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ellis had a strong inclination to reply to this ill-advised speech,
+but he looked at the pale face beside him, and prudently forbore any
+further remark.</p>
+
+<p>A nicely spread tea-table, on which there were plenty of cakes, smoothed
+down the ruffled temper of the spoilt boy; yet he did not forget what
+had all along been uppermost in his mind, namely, that he was to go and
+see the chickens as soon as tea was over. Had Mr. Ellis not been afraid
+of creating a disturbance at Oak Villa, he would certainly have
+prevented Fred's going into the garden, after his display of temper in
+his sister's room. He, however, made no opposition when the impatient
+boy, having despatched his tea and cake, made the announcement to his
+cousin Clara, that he was ready to go with her to see the fowls; and she
+good-naturedly rose from the table to attend him&mdash;not, however, without
+asking her aunt's leave.</p>
+
+<p>Freddy of course was delighted with all he saw, though he said he
+thought the chickens<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> were very large ones, and inquired after those he
+had seen a month ago, being very difficult to be persuaded that those he
+was now looking at were really the very identical chickens.</p>
+
+<p>Like his sister Mabel, Freddy wanted to nurse one of the chickens; nor
+did he ask if he might do so, but while Clara went for the corn he
+opened the wire door and boldly thrust his hand in: only, however, to
+receive, as she had done, a severe peck from the hen, which sent him
+stamping and screaming up and down, no doubt to the great astonishment
+of the cock and hens, and the immediate disarrangement of the family
+party, who all rushed out to know what was the matter. It certainly was
+a severe peck that the old hen had given, and a very great fright that
+the household had been put into by the screams and the roaring of the
+cowardly boy, which continued as he clung to his mamma's dress, until he
+accidentally caught sight of his papa, and then the storm ceased as if
+by magic; and so much of sham had there been in the affair, that the
+tempest calmed down without leaving trace of sob or tear.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ellis saw that his presence had been effectual, so he only said a
+few words to the young rebel, but he cast a half-sorrowful, half-angry
+glance at his wife; and Aunt Mary could not help whispering, 'Ada, what
+troubles you are making for yourself!'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>MAY DAY.</h3>
+
+
+<p>It was months before Mabel could really be said to have regained her
+health and strength. The dreary winter had passed away, and the tender
+leaves, and blossoms of April, had put forth their signs of returning
+spring.</p>
+
+<p>It must not however be supposed that the cold and dark season had been
+an unprofitable one; far from it. Though Mabel had been an occasional
+sufferer, during all that time, she and Clara had diligently attended to
+their studies, and had, Aunt Mary said, made rapid advance; while the
+inward change which had been experienced by the invalid left no room for
+regret either to herself or her friends.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel knew and felt that she had been healed of a far worse malady than
+any bodily one, and though, as in the case of rheumatic pains, hidden
+evils still gave occasional inward spasms, she had learned at whose
+hands she was to receive the healing draught, and she never failed to
+apply for it in the hour of need.</p>
+
+<p>I ought perhaps to have informed my readers, that soon after Mabel had
+been taken ill, Mr. and Mrs. Maitland, with their two daughters, Dora
+and Annie, had gone to spend the winter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> months in the west of England,
+with that lady's mother, who was now far advanced in years, and very
+desirous of having the company of this her last surviving child, and to
+feel the cheering influence of lively girlhood in the society of her
+truly loving and attentive granddaughters.</p>
+
+<p>And now, as I have before said, the winter had gone, and dewy April,
+with its smiles and tears, its soft green, tender leaves, its embryo
+buds and blossoms, its morning salutations which blithe birds sang in
+the half-clothed trees or in the air, made fragrant by the breath of
+primrose pale, or violet blue, or polyanthus bright&mdash;yes, dewy April,
+notwithstanding all these delights, was about to take its departure, in
+order to make way for the pleasant month of May, whose praises Aunt Mary
+celebrated in rhyme. Oak Villa was indeed a highly privileged home; no
+young girl, whose mind was properly balanced, could have considered it
+otherwise. Its owner was cheerful as the lark, industrious as the bee,
+thoughtful and provident as the ant, benevolent as!&mdash;well, I won't liken
+her to any of our four-footed friends; indeed, just at this moment, I
+must confess that no comparison occurs to me: but Aunt Mary loved her
+nieces, delighted to impart to them those stores of knowledge to which
+she was herself constantly adding, and which a very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> retentive memory
+enabled her to draw on for almost any occasion.</p>
+
+<p>Master Freddy, who, in his visit to the truly happy home I have been
+speaking of, had contrived to make himself as disagreeable as possible,
+had been punished for his conduct by being prevented from going with his
+sister Julia in her occasional visits to Oak Villa; this, of course, was
+by papa's order, and the prohibition was almost as grievous to mamma as
+it was to Freddy, but there was no redress. Julia had enjoyed many a
+pleasant walk with her sister and cousin, and she was particularly fond
+of going to see the poor people, especially Mrs. Simmons, whose husband
+had in a great measure regained his strength, and was now able to do at
+least some little towards the maintaining of his family. It had been
+very dull at home for Julia, after her sister had gone to Oak Villa; but
+she had her mamma to attend to, and to teach the children, though to say
+the truth this latter was almost an impossibility where Freddy was
+concerned, so he was often sent down to stay with mamma, being
+pronounced incorrigible.</p>
+
+<p>But May morning has come at last; it is Aunt Mary's birthday, and such a
+lovely day! The cousins have a great deal of work to do before
+breakfast-time: may-blossoms to gather, garlands to twine, vases to fill
+with the sweet-scented early flowers, the breakfast-table to arrange
+with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> best possible taste. As to Bridget, she had the day before
+been preparing for this special holiday; and even now she is very busy
+with her hot cakes and buns, which bid fair to be of the very best
+quality. Nine o'clock was the appointed hour for breakfast, and as Aunt
+Mary was not permitted by the young decorators to see what had been done
+in the way of preparation, it had been agreed that prayers were to be
+read in her bedroom, where, at half-past eight, Clara and Mabel, and
+Bridget, made their appearance; the former clasping Aunt Mary's neck,
+kissing her, and offering their most sincere and loving good wishes, the
+latter looking on the while, with no less kindly feeling, and with the
+honest tears of a faithful and devoted heart in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Punctually at nine, a cab drove up to the garden-gate of Oak Villa,
+which Bridget stood ready to open, while Clara and Mabel waited at the
+hall-door, to receive the joyful little party, and Aunt Mary formed the
+background of the scene.</p>
+
+<p>'How smart you are, Freddy,' remarked Clara, as she handed that young
+gentleman out of the cab; 'why, I never saw you in that dress before.'</p>
+
+<p>'We were kept waiting some time,' said his mamma, 'because he would not
+have his other clothes on. I was afraid we should be too late, so I let
+him have his own way.'</p>
+
+<p>'As usual, my dear sister,' said Aunt Mary,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> smiling, as she kissed and
+welcomed her sister. 'I'm afraid Freddy's light clothes will come to
+grief before the day is over, but he must take care.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, how beautifully you have set out the table!' was the general
+exclamation as they all entered the breakfast-room together; and really,
+it was a very imposing sight, and the juveniles thought a very
+appetising sight, for ham, and eggs, and tongue, and chicken, and cakes,
+and buns, make a strong appeal for their share of commendation, even
+where the more delicate and refined tastes are attracted by beautiful
+colours and delicious odours.</p>
+
+<p>It is really a very pleasant party that sits round this well-appointed
+table, though the kind and hospitable hostess regrets much that her
+brother-in-law, Mr. Ellis, was not able to be of the company. Aunt Mary
+knew who it was that kept order at home, and much, very much did she
+wish that her sister would be guided by her husband in the management of
+their children. But now there is nothing but bright looks and smiling
+happy faces, if we except that of Master Fred, who is looking round at
+the several dainties, apparently considering which he shall choose from
+first.</p>
+
+<p>Unfortunately for the peace of society, Aunt Mary helped Freddy to some
+ham without being asked, and before that young gentleman had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> made up
+his mind as to what he should choose. This was indeed a sad mistake,
+though done without the slightest suspicion of giving offence; but the
+offence was very quickly manifested.</p>
+
+<p>'I didn't want ham,' said the rude boy, as he pushed his plate from him;
+'I wanted some tongue.'</p>
+
+<p>'That is not a proper way to speak, my dear,' said his aunt; 'and you
+must eat what I have given you first, then you shall have some tongue.'</p>
+
+<p>This was strange language to the wayward boy; he resented it by another
+push of his plate, and leaning back in his chair with the determination
+of a martyr.</p>
+
+<p>Wonderful, he thought it, that no one at the breakfast-table, not even
+mamma, took the slightest notice of him, or seemed to care whether he
+had any breakfast or not. The fact was that a very significant look from
+Aunt Mary had imposed silence upon mamma, and sisters, and cousins, and
+the little ones were far too busy on their own account to give heed to
+Freddy, who was quarrelling with his bread and butter. In short, neither
+by word nor look had any effort been made to soothe the perturbed spirit
+of the really hungry boy.</p>
+
+<p>This state of things, however, was not to be endured; so thought Fred,
+when, after waiting a considerable time, and casting furtive glances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>
+around to see if there were any signs in his favour, but perceiving
+none, he pushed his chair away from the table and rushed out of the
+room, quite unable longer to suppress his passion or his tears. This was
+the signal for Mrs. Ellis to remonstrate, which she had all along wished
+to do.</p>
+
+<p>'Really, Mary, you are too severe on the poor boy,' she began, but was
+immediately, though kindly, silenced by Miss Livesay.</p>
+
+<p>'Not now, if you please, dear,' said Aunt Mary; 'we will not discuss
+this point before the juveniles, we will talk it over by-and-by. In the
+meantime, Freddy has, I hear, gone into the garden, where he can amuse
+himself without getting into mischief.'</p>
+
+<p>The latter part of this speech might have been omitted with propriety,
+but we must not forestall. The absence of the high-spirited young
+gentleman did not seem at all to lessen the enjoyment of the little
+people, who really behaved remarkably well, being for the most part
+under the management of a good nursery-maid, except when they were
+having their little lessons with Julia. Mrs. Ellis did not like the
+trouble of children herself, but through her weak-mindedness she
+certainly did what she could to make them a trouble to other people. The
+breakfast-party were just on the eve of breaking up, when a violent
+screaming in the back garden seemed to upset Aunt Mary's idea that
+Freddy could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> get into any mischief there, and soon the whole party
+were in the back garden to ascertain the cause of the disturbance.
+There, at the large rain-water barrel, covered with wet and dirt, yet
+holding fast by the top, stood the unfortunate Fred, his face crimson
+with fear and excitement, while he still tried with all his might to
+turn back the tap which he had so unluckily loosened, and which now,
+like himself, refused to submit to a weak hand, but was readily reduced
+to order by a strong one; for Bridget was at the scene of action, and
+set free the boy, now completely shamed, if not subdued, by having to
+appear before the whole party as an object of commiseration, if not
+ridicule.</p>
+
+<p>Of course there were no boy's habiliments at Oak Villa, and Fred had to
+undergo the further humiliation of being put into his sister's bed in
+one of her nightdresses, while his own clothes were drying.</p>
+
+<p>It must be confessed that a great reaction had taken place since the
+cold water had been thrown on the fiery young spirit, for there had been
+more than the mere wetting of the body. Fasting also had done its
+beneficial work; the craving stomach seemed to be resisting the defiant
+will. And when Freddy found himself quietly between the sheets, with
+only his sister Mabel&mdash;who had brought some breakfast up&mdash;to witness his
+humiliation, he very gladly, I might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> almost say thankfully, turned <i>to</i>
+the tempting viands which he had so short a time ago turned <i>from</i> with
+disgust. Yes, the piece of ham was there, and this time it was not
+pushed back; but there was no tongue, which had been desired and denied
+before. Aunt Mary never did things by halves.</p>
+
+<p>Here we will leave this graceless Freddy; he will have no lack of
+amusement while his clothes are drying, for Mabel and Clara have brought
+him books and pictures, and some old toys which had been put by: but
+Aunt Mary insists that Freddy is to be left to himself, after she has
+seen him, and kindly, but forcibly, shown him the foolishness, as well
+as the wickedness, of indulging in pride and evil temper. After all, May
+Day was at Oak Villa a very happy day to all who were there.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>AN EXCHANGE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Though the cold-water system had acted as a sedative with Master Fred,
+during the afternoon and evening of May Day, and though every precaution
+had been used to prevent any serious effects afterwards from the
+wetting, yet the boy did take cold; and so feverish and restless did he
+become, that the good Dr. Maddox,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> who had attended Mabel, was sent for
+without delay. His prescription, however, was not a very alarming one:
+namely, castor oil and some spirits of sweet nitre.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't frighten yourself, dear madam,' said the doctor: '<i>this</i> is not a
+case of rheumatic fever; nothing but a slight influenza cold. But you
+must take care to give him the medicine.' The doctor laid great stress
+on this.</p>
+
+<p>Of course the medicine was procured, but, alas! papa was not at home,
+and no amount of persuasion or coaxing would induce the obstinate little
+fellow to take it. It was in vain that mamma promised all sorts of toys,
+and produced preserves and lumps of sugar to take the taste out of his
+mouth, or threatened him with severe illness and more nauseous stuff, if
+this were not taken. It was no use, poor Mrs. Ellis was obliged to give
+it up; and heartily did she wish that her good sister Mary would call in
+the course of the day, for she dreaded her husband's coming home, and
+finding that the doctor's advice had not been followed. It was about
+three o'clock in the afternoon when the anxiously-expected visitor
+arrived at Camden Terrace. Of course she knew nothing about Fred being
+poorly; she had merely come to make general inquiries, and to see that
+Mrs. Ellis was no worse for the fatigue of May Day.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I am better than usual, dear Mary,' she replied to the kind
+inquiry; 'but I am troubled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> about Fred now. He is very poorly, in bed,
+and the doctor has ordered medicine for him, which I cannot get him to
+take. I have been longing for you to come; will you try if you can
+induce him to take it?'</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled, as she said: 'Do you remember, dear, a former trial
+that I had with this young tyrant of yours, when, being very determined
+myself, I held him fast and pressed the glass to his mouth, whereupon he
+actually bit a great piece out of it, at the same time kicking me so
+violently that I was fain to let him go, with, I believe, a mental
+promise that I would never again subject myself to such an indignity?'</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ellis could not help laughing; she had not forgotten the
+circumstance, but she pleaded now that Fred was two years older, and was
+not likely to repeat his exploit.</p>
+
+<p>'I know he is two years older,' said Aunt Mary, 'but I don't feel at all
+certain that he is two years better than he was; though he may be so
+much stronger as to increase my difficulty.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, do try, Mary dear,' urged Mrs. Ellis; 'I must get him to take it
+before his papa comes home.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Ada, Ada!' exclaimed her sister, 'how is it that you have allowed
+this boy to gain the mastery over you, to your own great sorrow, and to
+his great disadvantage? But, come,' added the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> kind friend, 'give me the
+medicine, and I will try what I can do.'</p>
+
+<p>'Now, Freddy,' said his aunt, as she came into the bedroom, cup in hand,
+'I am come to see you, and to make you better if I can. I suppose you
+are not fond of lying in bed this fine day,' she added.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh no, aunt; I want to get up, but mamma won't let me.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, dear, you know, you must always try to do as mamma wishes you,
+because she knows what is best for you; but I have brought something
+from the doctor that is sure to do you good, and it is to be taken
+immediately.'</p>
+
+<p>'I can't take it, aunt, it is such nasty stuff,' said the boy, with
+disgust.</p>
+
+<p>'I know it is very nasty stuff, Freddy, and, like you, I can't bear to
+take medicine; but when I know that it is to make me well, I am not so
+foolish as to refuse it. So now sit up like a man, and take the cup in
+one hand, and this little mint-drop in the other; drink off the nasty
+stuff in a moment, and pop the mint-drop into your mouth at once; you
+will never feel the taste of the medicine after that.'</p>
+
+<p>Whether it was the decisive manner in which Aunt Mary spoke, or the
+belief in the efficacy of the mint-drop, or the appeal to the manliness
+of the patient, we cannot say, but a magical effect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> had been produced,
+for the contents of the cup had been swallowed; and Fred, greatly
+relieved in mind, if not yet in body, laid down his head on the pillow
+and listened, evidently with much pleasure, to his aunt's commendations.</p>
+
+<p>This short illness of Freddy's was followed by a much more serious one
+of his mamma's. It had been a long time coming on, and it was the
+doctor's opinion that it might be of some months' continuance; rest and
+quiet were ordered, but they are not easily obtained where there are
+refractory children at Freddy's age. It would be easy enough to keep the
+little ones quiet, but Mrs. Ellis had permitted this turbulent boy of
+hers to make appeals to her on every trifling occasion, and to stand and
+whine and cry until he obtained what he wanted, because mamma was worn
+out with his teasing. Now that she was really so ill as to be more than
+usually affected by any disturbance, it became a question with Aunt Mary
+(though it was to her a very painful one) whether it would not be
+expedient, and the right thing to do, to make an exchange in favour of
+the invalid, and to substitute Mabel for her brother Fred, taking the
+responsibility of that rather notorious rebel upon herself, and giving
+her dear sister the benefit of a tender nurse, who had grown wise beyond
+her years, through much suffering and good teaching.</p>
+
+<p>If there had been the shadow of a doubt on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> the kind lady's mind as to
+what course she should pursue, her visit to Camden Terrace the day after
+the doctor had given his opinion respecting Mrs. Ellis, would have
+determined her; for on the front-door being opened, she heard a violent
+screaming and kicking, sufficient to disturb the nerves of a much less
+sensitive person than Mrs. Ellis.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that is Fred making that noise,' said Mabel, who had come with her
+aunt to visit mamma. 'Shall I go up to him?' she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>'No, my dear; go to the sick-room. I will myself encounter the rebel;'
+and Aunt Mary went straight upstairs, just as nurse opened the room-door
+to remonstrate with the unruly boy, who was quickly and unceremoniously
+caught up from the floor, and made to stand on his feet.</p>
+
+<p>'Let me not hear another sound from you while I am here,' said his aunt.
+'And, Jane,' she added, speaking to the nurse, 'please to put up in a
+small basket this young gentleman's night-clothes. I intend to take him
+home with me; he must not remain here to make his poor mamma worse than
+she is.' So saying, Miss Livesay left the nursery, and proceeded to her
+sister's bedroom, where she found Mabel arranging the pillows, and
+making the bed rather more comfortable for her poor mamma.</p>
+
+<p>Master Freddy had been completely taken by surprise, and he seemed at a
+loss at first how to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> give vent to the suppressed passion that was
+swelling within; but when nurse said, 'I am very glad indeed that your
+aunt is going to take you away, for then we shall have some peace in the
+house,' he jumped off the stool on which he had been sitting, and would
+have struck her with a brush which he took from the table, had she not
+forcibly held both his hands, and threatened to take him at once to the
+room where Aunt Mary was.</p>
+
+<p>'You needn't put up my night-shirt,' said passionate Fred, 'for I shan't
+go with that nasty old thing!' This was, however, uttered in a subdued
+tone, and elicited 'Shame, shame!' from nurse, and even from little
+Gerty.</p>
+
+<p>'I think,' added Jane, 'you are the very worst boy I ever did see, and I
+wouldn't stop here if you was obliged to be kept in the nursery, which I
+suppose you would be, now your mamma's so poorly, for it isn't to be
+expected that you will be allowed to go teasing her about every little
+thing. I <i>am</i> glad, very glad, you are going away; and I hope Miss
+Livesay will keep you a very long time,' added nurse, while Fred, not
+daring to explode, on account of his aunt's being so near, vented his
+passion on the poor kitten by kicking it violently from under the stool,
+where he had again seated himself.</p>
+
+<p>'Ada dear,' said Aunt Mary to her sister, 'I am going to propose a
+transfer, which, though I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> must confess it will be a very painful one to
+me, yet perhaps may in the end be good for all parties; and, I think,
+will prove for your especial benefit now you are so unwell. It is my
+intention&mdash;if you do not object,' continued Miss Livesay, 'to leave dear
+Mabel with you, and to take that refractory young gentleman, whose
+kicking and shouting, as I came to the door, must have disturbed you,
+home with me to Oak Villa. I intend to remain with you this afternoon,
+while Mabel goes to our house to tell Bridget to prepare a bed for Fred.
+I dare say, before I want to leave, Mr. Ellis will be home, and then I
+shall have no fear of a scene with Master Freddy: he will not venture on
+opposition when his papa is here.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, dear Mary!' said Mrs. Ellis, 'how kind it is of you to care for me
+and mine so much! I can never thank you enough for what you have done
+for dear Mabel; but she, poor girl, won't like to stay in a sick-room.'</p>
+
+<p>'Mamma dear, don't say that!' exclaimed the now affectionate Mabel; 'I
+will nurse you day and night. I shall only be doing for you what dear
+aunt and Clara did for me, when I was so ill.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well now, you must give me some work to do,' said Aunt Mary; 'I will
+sit with your mamma while you go down and tell Bridget to prepare a bed
+in my dressing-room for your brother. I shall take care to keep him near
+me day and night.' This speech was addressed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> Mabel, who was very
+glad to find that it was her aunt's intention to remain till the
+evening; she soon set off on her errand, though she feared she should be
+the bearer of no very pleasant news to Bridget, who would certainly not
+at all like the advent of such an unruly boy at their peaceful home.</p>
+
+<p>'I'm sure our mistress will not let him have the lamp lighted in his
+bedroom all night, as nurse says he has at home,' said Bridget; 'so most
+likely that will be the first row he will make.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, leave aunt to settle all that, Bridget,' said Mabel; 'you know how
+well she manages these matters.'</p>
+
+<p>''Deed I do, Miss Mabel; and who knows,' said the honest, plain-spoken
+servant, 'but what she may make as great a change in Fred as she did in
+you!'</p>
+
+<p>Bridget did not take into account the severe illness and mental
+suffering that had helped, with Aunt Mary's wise efforts, to work this
+reformation. She attributed all to her kind mistress. While Bridget
+attended to the commands of her mistress, Mabel went into the garden to
+gather some flowers for her mamma, as her aunt had requested her; and
+after bidding good-morning to the faithful servant, she wended her way
+quickly to her early home, thinking, as she went, what a blessing it was
+to have so kind a friend as Aunt Mary. During the time that Mrs. Ellis
+had been so un<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>well, the children had all dined together in the nursery
+at two o'clock; and Aunt Mary insisted that there should be no departure
+from this rule on her account, as she intended to make one of the party.
+At the hour appointed, the bell rang for dinner, and soon all were
+seated at the table but Fred; that young gentleman had chosen to make
+himself scarce, and notwithstanding the ringing of the bell, out of
+doors and in, a second time, he did not make his appearance.</p>
+
+<p>Great was the consternation of nurse at not being able to find Freddy;
+she began to fear that he had run away from home to avoid going to Oak
+Villa. He had once played such a trick, and made everybody miserable
+until he was found in the evening, and brought home by a woman who
+washed for his mamma. Mabel and Julia did not feel at all comfortable,
+though Aunt Mary would not let them leave the table to go in search of
+the truant.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't distress yourselves, my dears,' said Miss Livesay; 'depend upon
+it, the culprit is not very far off. Nurse and cook will look after
+him.'</p>
+
+<p>And so the dinner proceeded, though Mabel would much rather have gone
+without, had she been permitted. All at once a thought struck her, and
+she exclaimed: 'I'll tell you where I think he is, aunt; where we once
+found him before!' and Mabel rose up and went to the window which looked
+on the side of the house where there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> a large dog-kennel, and over
+it a wooden shed with a window in it, to which shed access was gained by
+a ladder. 'Yes!' exclaimed Mabel, 'I see the key is in the door where
+the apples are kept. We once found Fred there asleep on the straw;
+perhaps he is there now!' and the anxious girl was making her way out of
+the room, when a loud scream brought her back to the window, from which
+she beheld Freddy with his foot caught in the top step of the ladder,
+and his head ignominiously resting on the hard step.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel was off in an instant, but quick as she was, cook was there before
+her, and Fred had been turned right side upwards, and his blubbered face
+wiped with that towel of all work, Susan's apron; while his forehead
+presented a lump sufficiently large to account for the explosion they
+had been treated to.</p>
+
+<p>No doubt it had been Master Freddy's intentions, when he went into this
+hiding-place, to remain there all day, until Aunt Mary should take her
+leave; he did not know of her intention to remain at Camden Terrace
+until his papa came home, or perhaps he might have hit upon some other
+expedient. His idea was, that they would all be so frightened at having
+lost him, that when he did make his appearance, he would be received
+joyfully.</p>
+
+<p>Whether it was that the sound of the dinner-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>bell had created a
+sensation of hunger not to be resisted, or the savoury smell of the
+nicely cooked viands had stimulated the stomach to rebellion, we cannot
+say; but Freddy roused himself from his recumbent position, and, as we
+have seen, came (very unintentionally) head foremost down the steps.
+Alas, there is no one to sympathise with him in his self-made trouble,
+Aunt Mary won't permit it; and Master Frederick Ellis has to dine in the
+kitchen, a most humiliating necessity which would not have been
+submitted to, but for the inward cravings which would not be resisted.</p>
+
+<p>It was with the greatest satisfaction that Mr. Ellis, when he came home,
+heard of the kind proposal of his sister-in-law to take Freddy home with
+her; he said that he could never sufficiently thank her for the good she
+had done to Mabel, but he feared that Freddy would prove a more
+troublesome inmate to Oak Villa than ever she had been. Aunt Mary
+declared, however, to the great astonishment of Freddy, who was in the
+room at the time, that Oak Villa would not hold naughty people, whether
+they were men, women, or children; and that as soon as Fred had slept
+there one night, he would find himself quite another boy, and be ready
+to do anything that he was desired. Fred heard all this with
+'wonder-working eyes;'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> we don't know whether he really believed it. But
+as he trudged silently along by his aunt's side, with the little basket
+in one hand, and her hand clasping his other, he thought what a strange
+place Oak Villa must be to make people good, whether they liked it or
+not.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ellis wished very much to accompany his sister home, but she would
+not permit this.</p>
+
+<p>'How can you think that I want a protector when I have Fred with me,
+papa?' she inquired. 'I know very well,' she added, 'that we shall soon
+be the best friends in the world; and Freddy will take all the trouble
+off my hands of feeding cousin Clara's chickens while she is away.'</p>
+
+<p>I should have stated that Clara had gone on a short visit to her mamma.</p>
+
+<p>The reference to the chickens was an excellent stroke of policy of
+aunt's; she felt the small hand, which she held, tighten in hers, and an
+inward feeling of satisfaction came over her spirit, as she said within
+herself, 'Love is a constraining power.'</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>THE NEW INMATE OF OAK VILLA.</h3>
+
+
+<p>And now a new sort of life began, both at Oak Villa, and at Camden
+Terrace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Mabel had promised her aunt (and she meant faithfully to fulfil that
+promise) to give what portion of the time she could spare from her
+attendance on mamma, to the lessons of her sister Julia, who was now far
+behind Mabel, and sadly needed a preceptress.</p>
+
+<p>Well and amicably the two girls worked together; though there were
+trials of temper at times, when Julia did not seem to make such progress
+as her youthful instructress had anticipated. This, however, was only a
+trifling matter; there was peace in the house, and papa came home, not
+to be burdened with complaints, by domestic irregularities, but to be
+solaced by the loving attentions of his two girls, and amused by the
+sententious sayings of little prudish Gertrude, or the high spirits and
+happy gleefulness of Willie.</p>
+
+<p>It was also a source of great comfort to him to know that Fred was in
+such good keeping; he could not doubt this, when he had practical proof
+before him daily, in the change that had been wrought in his eldest
+daughter. But how do they get on at Oak Villa, I wonder?</p>
+
+<p>Admirably, I must say, considering that this is Aunt Mary's first
+attempt at taming an embryo lord of the creation. Is she very severe? By
+no means! Fred finds, to his great surprise, that 'this nasty old thing'
+works by love! and he is positively so full of employment and
+enjoy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>ment, that he has no time to think of himself or to give way to
+evil temper. It must be owned (for there was no miracle in the case)
+that kind Aunt Mary had determined to give up this week, while Clara was
+away, to the instruction, amusement, and management of the Camden
+Terrace rebel; and though no outward sign betrayed the good lady's
+inward trials, it really was a week of trial to her. But she had
+succeeded to a wonder, so far as outward appearance testified, and
+worthy Bridget, who, by her good-nature helped on the reformation,
+declared herself astonished to find Master Freddy such a different boy
+to what she expected.</p>
+
+<p>And so the weeks passed by. Fred still lived on at Oak Villa, a happy
+and a loving inmate. Clara had come home, and contributed not a little
+to Fred's enjoyment; they went out together to see all the poor people,
+and particularly the Simmons family, who were getting on very well, now
+that the father was recovered. Fred had a wheelbarrow and a nice box
+that Simmons had made him, and Clara and he worked away famously in the
+garden, weeding, or planting, or picking up stones. Aunt Mary says,
+'This is what we have been trying to do for you, dear Freddy. Weeding
+out the naughty bitter weeds, putting in seeds that we hope will spring
+up, and grow to be beautiful flowers, and picking up the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> stones, that
+the soil may look smooth, and show that it is well taken care of.'</p>
+
+<p>We must not forget the visits paid to dear mamma, twice a week, when
+that good lady was moved, even to tears, to see the great change, both
+in appearance and manner, that had taken place in her beloved child. She
+was much better, and the doctor thought that change of air would be the
+very best thing to restore her to health; but there were many things to
+be considered in the carrying out of such a proposal. Time may do
+wonders, but that time had not yet come; and we have travelled on a
+little too fast, I think, so we will go back to the first morning of
+Master Freddy's advent at Oak Villa. The first bell had rung, but
+Bridget was not satisfied to let the little boy's getting up depend on
+that, so she went and knocked at his door, and then peeped in.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, bless me, Master Fred, are you not up yet?' exclaimed the good
+woman in pretended surprise. 'Why, the sun has been up a long time, and
+the birds are a-singing; and the fowls I know are wanting their
+breakfast, so I hope you will not keep them waiting very long. You must
+wash yourself well, and dress yourself nicely, and brush your hair, for
+I know your aunt can't abide to see slovenly children.'</p>
+
+<p>After these instructions, Bridget made her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> exit; and Fred, the tiresome
+Fred, who when at home would only get up when he thought proper, jumped
+out of bed, put on his socks and shoes, performed his ablutions, and
+finished his dressing in a most satisfactory manner. Then he went down,
+and joined his aunt in the breakfast-room.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, my dear Fred,' said the kind lady, taking her nephew by the hand
+and kissing him, 'I hope you are no worse for your fall yesterday, and
+that you have had a good night's rest?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I slept so well, aunt. It is such a nice little bed, I like it so
+much!'</p>
+
+<p>'And have you, my child,' said his aunt, 'thanked the good God who gave
+you sleep, and rest, and kind friends?'</p>
+
+<p>'I haven't said my prayers, aunt,' replied Freddy; 'I don't always say
+them.'</p>
+
+<p>'But you always wish to have kind friends, and a nice bed, and peaceful
+sleep, don't you, dear Fred?' said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, aunt, I do,' replied the boy.</p>
+
+<p>'And don't you think you ought to be thankful when you have them?' was
+the next question.</p>
+
+<p>Freddy hung down his head, but he whispered 'Yes.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, go then, my dear, and thank your heavenly Father for His
+goodness, and ask Him to bless you, and keep you from all evil to-day.'</p>
+
+<p>And Freddy went back to his room, and knelt beside his little bed, and
+repeated the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> prayer that he had said so many times before, without
+thinking even of what he was saying; but this time he did think.</p>
+
+<p>After breakfast Fred went to feed the fowls, though this ought to have
+been done before; but this was a beginning, so it did not much matter.
+At ten o'clock he was called to his books, and Aunt Mary expected a
+trial, for Freddy had never been at school, and his teaching at home had
+been only such as he chose to receive from his mamma or his sisters,
+when he happened to be in the humour. Yet he was naturally a quick
+child, and but for temper, his aunt did not at all contemplate any
+difficulty; indeed, she had no reason to do so, with her method of
+teaching. She was never harsh, but she was strict in discipline. She
+knew, that to make children happy, it was not at all necessary that they
+should have their own way, though she never contradicted them without
+occasion. She, in short, treated them as reasonable creatures, as loving
+creatures, who required love to draw them out; and she had seen, and
+felt, the happy results of this treatment. After the first week there
+was no more trouble about lessons; and with the assistance of Bridget
+and Clara, who were both now really fond of the boy, and did many little
+things to contribute to his pleasure, Aunt Mary found that she need no
+longer have any dread of having taken into her happy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> domicile an
+inmate, who would destroy its hitherto peaceful character; and Fred
+never once expressed a wish to go and live at home again.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2>
+
+
+<h3>THE OAK AND THE LAUREL UNITED.</h3>
+
+
+<p>More than four months had elapsed since Mabel had left Oak Villa to
+attend to her mamma, and Freddy had found a happy and delightful home in
+that very desirable locality. The days were shortening now, and the
+splendid autumn sunsets threw their gorgeous colouring over the trees,
+that had already put on their russet mantles, as if in anticipation of
+some great change. In human affairs it often happens that great changes
+come very unexpectedly, and so it occurred in the families with whom we
+have been the most familiar.</p>
+
+<p>It was the beginning of October, when Aunt Mary received a letter from
+her friend Mrs. Maitland which greatly surprised, and at first grieved
+her not a little. It contained the startling intelligence that Mr.
+Maitland wished to let their pretty homes, the Laurels, as the very
+precarious state of health Mrs. Maitland's mother was in, rendered it
+absolutely necessary that they should remain with her for perhaps a very
+long time.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Clara dear,' said her aunt, 'is not this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> sad news for us? I can
+scarcely believe it. Mrs. Maitland says they are not coming back; but
+are going to let the Laurels.</p>
+
+<p>'How we shall miss them all, I fear we shall never get such good
+neighbours again,' said the lady, in a much more dolorous tone than was
+usual with her.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I am so sorry!' exclaimed Clara, 'and so will Mabel be I know, for
+Dora and Annie were our very best friends. But who is that other letter
+from?' inquired the niece; 'I hope that does not contain bad news,
+aunt!'</p>
+
+<p>Miss Livesay took up the letter spoken of; she had been so taken by
+surprise with the information contained in the first letter, that she
+had almost forgotten the other, which she now opened, and a glad
+exclamation which she uttered on reading the first line convinced Clara
+that there was salve for the wound which had been inflicted.</p>
+
+<p>She was not kept in a state of suspense, the letter was from Irene (Mrs.
+Gordon), and the first line was: 'We are coming home to you, dear Mary!'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, when, aunt, when?' cried Clara.</p>
+
+<p>'Wait, my dear, and you shall hear all,' replied Miss Livesay. '"Captain
+Gordon has got leave of absence for six months; will you, can you, dear
+Mary, let me come again to the dear old home? there is no place like
+it!" Dear Irene,' cried Aunt Mary, she little thinks how I long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> to see
+her, and the quick tears testified the melting heart.</p>
+
+<p>Freddy all this time had stood an amazed listener; he could not at all
+make it out why the breakfast should be delayed, but he remembered Aunt
+Irene, and Captain Gordon, too, and he could somewhat enter into the
+pleasure manifested at the idea of their coming to see them, only he
+wished, notwithstanding, that Aunt Mary would pour the tea out, and
+allow him to begin his breakfast. This was done almost mechanically by
+Aunt Mary, her mind was already so full of projects, which, however,
+must be explained some time hence.</p>
+
+<p>'Now the first thing we do, dear Clara, after breakfast,' said the kind
+aunt, 'must be to go to Camden Terrace; I hope your uncle will not have
+gone out, as I have a message for him from Mr. Maitland.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh then, do let Freddy and me go at once,' entreated Clara; 'we can be
+so quick, and we can tell Uncle Ellis that you are coming immediately,
+so that you need not hurry yourself, dear aunt.'</p>
+
+<p>'Not a bad proposition, my little girl,' said her aunt; 'and Freddy, is
+he ready to go?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes, I am quite ready, and we can run all the way, and we can tell
+mamma that Aunt Irene is coming to see her; won't she be pleased? and so
+will Mabel and Julia. Oh, I am so glad,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> and Fred gave a remarkable
+caper, which not only threw himself down, but <i>overthrew</i> the gravity of
+both aunt and cousin, who laughed heartily at the grotesque way in which
+he exhibited his joy.</p>
+
+<p>'We won't say anything about Aunt Irene's letter till you come,'
+whispered Clara to her aunt, but that lady said:</p>
+
+<p>'Depend upon it, dear Clara, your mamma has got a letter, as well as
+myself, so this will be no news to her, though the Maitlands'
+communications will, and of this you need not say anything.'</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ellis was just preparing to leave home when Clara and Fred made
+their appearance.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, you are early visitors this morning,' said that gentleman,
+kissing, and shaking hands with the fresh, healthy looking messengers,
+and adding; 'has the postman's news made you run off in such a hurry?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, it is the postman's news, uncle, that sent us here so soon,' said
+Clara, 'because Aunt Mary wants to see, and talk with you, before you go
+out; she will be here in less than half an hour, if you will kindly
+wait.'</p>
+
+<p>'That I will do with pleasure, my little girl, and you and Fred can go
+and find out mamma, and Mabel, and Julia, and Gertrude, and Willie, for
+I can hear them all making a noise; this news about Aunt Irene has
+caused a great commotion in the house,' said Mr. Ellis.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Away ran Clara and Freddy, to find, as papa had said, a glad and rather
+noisy company in mamma's room. The invalid herself seeming evidently
+better for this piece of joyous excitement.</p>
+
+<p>We may well believe that the noise was not lessened in the room by the
+advent of Clara and Freddy; the latter having, since his departure from
+home, and the good accounts received of him from Aunt Mary, become
+somewhat of a hero in the estimation of the little people and even of
+his sisters. But here are other visitors, Aunt Mary and Mr. Ellis appear
+upon the scene, and they both stand for a moment in silent astonishment
+at the uproar that is made.</p>
+
+<p>'Well,' said Aunt Mary, after a moment's pause, 'this is not much like
+the chamber of an invalid; and yet you look wonderfully bright, my dear
+Ada,' she said to her sister, putting her arms round and kissing Mrs.
+Ellis, who was already up, and seated in her arm-chair.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I am so much better, dear Mary; Irene's letter has acted like a
+cordial to me this morning; of course <i>you</i> have received one from her?'
+said Mrs. Ellis.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes; and I have also had one from our friend Mrs. Maitland, which, as
+it requires advice and consideration, will also require a little peace
+and quietness, so we had better dismiss the joyous young party; they can
+finish off, and talk over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> pleasant affairs, in the nursery. What do you
+say to this, my dears?' inquired Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>'We all say yes, yes, aunt!' replied Mabel, catching up Willie, and
+making a speedy exit, followed by the whole troop of rejoicing spirits,
+who were not at all sorry to leave grave discussions to their seniors.</p>
+
+<p>'And now,' said Miss Livesay, after the young tribe had left the room,
+'let us proceed to business. I have had a letter this morning from our
+friends the Maitlands, and in it, a request from Mr. Maitland to you,
+dear brother, to help him in the letting of his house, as they do not
+intend to return.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, how I wish we could take the Laurels, Arthur!' said Mrs. Ellis,
+eagerly; 'it would be so delightful to be near dear Mary; the thought
+almost makes me well, I declare,' she continued, as the colour mounted
+to her pale cheeks.</p>
+
+<p>'It was the very idea that entered my head when I read the letter,' said
+Miss Livesay. 'I do think, dear Ada, that such a change of air and scene
+would be very beneficial to you; but, of course, it will require
+consideration, which, I know, your husband will give it.'</p>
+
+<p>'I don't think that we should find any difficulty in letting <i>this</i>
+house,' observed Mr. Ellis; 'and I assure you, I am as anxious for a
+change as my wife is; though the distance from my office will be
+greater, I should not mind that; I think we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> should all be greatly
+benefited in health. I will myself write to Mr. Maitland this very day,
+and run the risk of letting our own house, rather than lose such a
+golden opportunity.'</p>
+
+<p>My young readers, I dare say, know nothing about the troubles of a
+removal; I do, and I am not at all disposed to inflict details on them.
+All I have to say on the subject is, that matters were so speedily and
+amicably arranged, that the Laurels or Laurel Villa, received its new
+occupants before the month of November had commenced, and that so great
+an improvement had taken place in the health of Mrs. Ellis, as made the
+doctor, aye, and Aunt Mary too, suspect that the <i>nerves</i> had received a
+great deal too much consideration, and that henceforth they were not to
+claim more than their due share. We may imagine how busy Mabel, and
+Clara, and Julia, and even Freddy had been; and, oh! what a comfort it
+was to all parties, that now, neither Laurel Villa, nor Oak Villa, would
+receive ill-conditioned men, women, or children, for did not the kind
+and benevolent fairy preside over both houses?</p>
+
+<p>Yes, she did; and I am bound to say that there was no opposition, for
+Aunt Mary's ways and doings had worked such wonders as disinterested
+love alone <i>can</i> work, and her heart was filled with joy and
+thankfulness at the success achieved.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Gordon and Aunt Irene did not arrive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> in England so soon as had
+been expected, but they put in an appearance before Christmas, and were
+quite delighted with the change that had been made; and, oh! what a
+joyous party helped to make the splendid wreath for the decoration of
+Mr. Norton's church, at Christmas time; plenty of laurels, we know, they
+had close at hand, so that though there were other kind workers in this
+delightful employ, I think we may say that none excelled in design or
+quantity the productions of the two villas.</p>
+
+<p>Our former friend, Harry Maitland, was on a visit to Mr. Newlove, and
+not a day passed during the Christmas week in which there was not an
+interchange of visits with the young people; and when on Christmas Day
+they all assembled at church, I don't think there could have been in
+England a happier or more thankful family party than that which came
+from the intertwined <i>Oak and Laurel</i>!</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+'<i>Order</i> is Heaven's first law!'
+</p>
+
+<p>But <i>Love</i> is the elastic, all-embracing band, which, wreathed with
+amaranthine flowers, endures when time shall be no more!</p>
+
+
+<h4>THE END.</h4>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h3>BY THE SAME AUTHOR.</h3>
+
+
+
+<div class='centered'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Books by the same author">
+<tr><td align='left'>The Story of a Mouse.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>The Story of a Cat.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>The Village School.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>The Story of a Penny.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>Our Poor Neighbours.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>The Three Sisters.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>Ellen and Frank.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>The Twin Brothers.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>Lilian Seacroft.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+<p class="center"><br />BILLING AND SONS, PRINTERS AND ELECTROTYPERS, GUILDFORD.</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT MARY***</p>
+<p>******* This file should be named 21663-h.txt or 21663-h.zip *******</p>
+<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br />
+<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/6/6/21663">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/6/6/21663</a></p>
+<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.</p>
+
+<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Aunt Mary, by Mrs. Perring
+
+
+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: Aunt Mary
+
+
+Author: Mrs. Perring
+
+
+
+Release Date: June 2, 2007  [eBook #21663]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT MARY***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship, and the
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+
+
+
+
+
+AUNT MARY
+
+by
+
+MRS. PERRING
+
+Author of
+'The Story of a Mouse,' 'The Story of a Cat,' 'The Castle
+and the Cottage,' Etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+London
+George Routledge and Sons
+Broadway, Ludgate Hill
+New York: 416 Broome Street
+1881.
+
+
+
+[Illustration: AUNT MARY.]
+
+
+
+AUNT MARY.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+AUNT MARY.
+
+
+In one of those very pretty suburban villas which are to be seen in the
+neighbourhood of all our large towns, Aunt Mary lived, at the time when
+my tale commences.
+
+Indeed she had lived there the greater part of her life, for her father,
+Mr. Livesay, who had been a highly respected merchant in London for a
+great many years, had, unlike the generality of this prosperous class,
+retired from business as soon as he had secured a moderate competency
+for himself, his wife, and their four daughters, of whom our Aunt Mary
+was the eldest.
+
+Mr. Livesay had purchased the pretty house, to which he had retreated
+from the hurry and bustle of the great city, but before doing so, he had
+taken care to ascertain that the inhabitants of the adjoining villa were
+likely to prove agreeable neighbours; and this he had done to his
+entire satisfaction, as Mr. and Mrs. Maitland, with their two sweet
+little children, gave promise of pleasurable society.
+
+At the time of his retirement from business, the four daughters of Mr.
+Livesay were grown up to woman's estate; though perhaps that can hardly
+be said of the youngest, Irene, who was only sixteen, while her two
+sisters, Ada and Alice, were of the respective ages of eighteen and
+twenty.
+
+Great pains had been taken in the _real_ education of these young
+ladies, for their excellent mother had spared no pains in their early
+training; and as they were all quick and clever children, the task of
+'teaching the young idea how to shoot,' in their case, proved
+'delightful.' We wish this were oftener the case; but to proceed: Aunt
+Mary, as we have said, was the eldest of these young ladies; she was at
+the discreet age of four-and-twenty--indeed, she might have been thirty,
+for the aptitude she displayed in household matters, taking all the care
+of housekeeping off her good mother's hands, and being looked up to, and
+appealed to, in all doubtful matters by her sisters.
+
+Both Mr. and Mrs. Livesay considered their daughter Mary their chief
+treasure; indeed, she was everything that a daughter ought to be.
+
+There was one thing, however, lacking that her three sisters possessed:
+she was not beautiful. Aunt Mary, if she had been pretty in infancy, had
+been spoiled by that dreadful ravager, the small-pox, which she had
+caught, through the carelessness of a nurse, when she was five years
+old.
+
+It had not, however, left her entirely without good looks; for the
+kindly feelings of her heart beamed forth in the eloquent dark eyes and
+the sweet smile that almost invariably lighted up her face.
+
+Laughingly, she used to say to her sisters, 'Well, you may all get
+married, and I shall live at home with my mother and father.'
+
+And even as Aunt Mary said, so it came to pass: her sisters all married,
+and she remained at home, the loving daughter, the tender nurse, the
+deepest mourner for the loss of their dear parents, whom she had so
+dutifully cherished in their old age.
+
+At the death of Mr. and Mrs. Livesay, which happened about ten years
+after the marriage of their two daughters, Ada and Alice--whom I must
+now introduce to the reader as Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Beaumont--Aunt Mary
+was warmly entreated to give up housekeeping, and go and reside with one
+or other of her sisters, especially as Irene, the youngest, who had for
+the last twelve months undertaken the task of governess to the two Miss
+Maitlands, their next-door neighbours, was now engaged to be married,
+and the house, it was urged, would be too large and too lonely for Aunt
+Mary to reside in with any comfort.
+
+This proposition, however, did not at all suit one who had for so many
+years acted independently; nor, although she was fond of children, would
+she on any account undertake a partial teaching of them. 'Let me have
+all the say, or none,' was Aunt Mary's maxim, so she decided to remain
+where she was, promising however, that when her sister Irene should
+marry Captain Gordon, she would take into serious consideration Mr. and
+Mrs. Maitland's earnest request, that she would continue the education
+of their two dear girls at her own house.
+
+This, after the lapse of six months, Miss Livesay had agreed to, and had
+also sent for the eldest daughter of her sister Mrs. Beaumont, who was
+now a widow, with three children, though she had been left very well
+off, and could have sent her daughter Clara to a first-rate school, had
+she been so disposed. Mrs. Beaumont, however, knew too well the benefit
+her child was likely to derive from the real education she would receive
+from her sister Mary, to hesitate for a moment as to putting her under
+that lady's exclusive care; and thus at the same time that Oak Villa
+received Mrs. Maitland's two little girls, Annie and Dora, it became
+also the pleasant home of Clara Beaumont, who although she was the
+youngest of the trio, was certainly the most seriously disposed;
+perhaps, poor child, on account of the loss of her dear papa, who had
+died very unexpectedly, in the prime of life, from neglected cold, which
+terminated in acute bronchitis. This, though it had occurred six months
+previous to Clara's advent at Oak Villa, was an event still deeply felt
+and lamented by the sensitive child, and produced a seriousness of
+character seldom seen in children of her age; but the change was likely
+to prove very beneficial both to her health and spirits, and it was not
+long before Aunt Mary saw, with much pleasure, that her niece gladly
+entered upon her studies, and appeared very desirous to overtake her
+young companions in their several lessons, which, as she was exceedingly
+industrious, she was very likely to do before many weeks had passed
+away.
+
+We must now, however, look after Aunt Mary's second sister, Mrs. Ellis,
+whose eldest daughter, Mabel, was only a few months older than Clara
+Beaumont, but whose character at this time was as unlike that of her
+young cousin as could possibly be imagined, which the reader will soon
+perceive when we introduce her in the next chapter, associated as she
+will be with the gentle and amiable daughters of Mrs. Maitland, who,
+together with her niece Clara, had been Aunt Mary's pupils for some
+months, though at present it was holiday-time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.
+
+
+'Mamma dear,' said Dora Maitland, the eldest of that lady's two
+daughters, a sweet gentle-looking girl about twelve years of age, 'may
+Annie and I go and ask Mabel and Julia Ellis to take a walk with us this
+afternoon? We are going to see John Hutton's beehives; he has got some
+new glass ones, and he says it is so interesting to watch the little
+creatures at work. I am sure we should all like to see them, and I do so
+wish that Clara was here, to go with us, she is such a dear girl.'
+
+While this request was making, Dora's younger sister, Annie, stood
+looking with beseeching eyes at mamma, evidently very anxious for that
+lady's reply, which was not immediately given, for Mrs. Maitland was
+apparently debating in her own mind whether it were desirable, or not,
+to attend to Dora's request.
+
+'May we, mamma?' urged the young pleader timidly. 'You are not afraid to
+let us go, are you?' she inquired.
+
+'Oh no, not afraid,' replied Mrs. Maitland; 'at least, not afraid of
+your going alone; but what I am afraid of is, that it may be
+inconvenient to Mrs. Ellis to let your young friends accompany you, as
+at present I know that their nurse is away, and--and she herself is not
+at all well.'
+
+'Then do you think, mamma, that we may ask Julia to go with us? We like
+her best, and Mabel could stay at home and take care of the children, as
+she is the eldest.'
+
+'Not a bad suggestion, my dear Dora,' replied her mother, 'only I fear
+there would be some objection on Mabel's part to such an arrangement.
+From what I have observed in that young lady,' continued Mrs. Maitland,
+'she is not very loving, nor very tractable, and I fear she has been
+spoiled by over indulgence. However, if you will promise not to press
+the matter, should you see that it is likely to be inconvenient to Mrs.
+Ellis, you may go; it is a lovely afternoon, and I hope you will enjoy
+yourselves.'
+
+With light hearts and buoyant footsteps, the two fair girls set off on
+their errand of inquiry to Camden Terrace, where Mr. Ellis resided,
+meeting with a very kind reception from Mrs. Ellis, and a joyful
+greeting from Mabel and Julia, who, to say the truth, were getting
+rather tired of the monotony of home, especially as, the nursemaid
+being away for a fortnight, and mamma not being well, they were under
+the necessity of taking care of the children, if care it could be
+called, where neither love nor forbearance were in exercise; but the
+little ones were only prevented from doing mischief, or hurting each
+other.
+
+As the engagements of Mr. Ellis kept him from home all day, he had very
+little time, and I am sorry to say that he had very little inclination,
+to attend to his children, though we must do him the justice to say that
+he _wished_ sincerely for their proper training; but he thought, as I
+fear too many papas do, that this duty belonged exclusively to his wife.
+This _we_ think is a grave mistake. Children cannot be taught too early
+the lesson of obedience; and often it happens that the weakness or
+tenderness of a mother prevents her from enforcing this very salutary
+precept.
+
+But I return to our young friends, who were under the necessity of
+making their request in the presence of both Mabel and Julia, though
+they had agreed between themselves not to do so, but to ask their mamma
+alone, so that if it were inconvenient to her they would not press the
+matter.
+
+Without waiting for their mamma's answer, both the girls immediately
+begged to be allowed to go, indeed using every entreaty, so that poor
+Mrs. Ellis appeared quite distressed; and the young Maitlands were no
+less so, for they remembered what their mamma had said to them.
+
+'I really scarcely know what to do,' said Mrs. Ellis, at last; 'I should
+be sorry to deprive you of any pleasure, but you know, Mabel, I am not
+well, and nurse is not with us: besides which, your papa made a
+particular request this morning that I would not let you go out to-day.'
+
+'Oh, that is always the way with papa,' broke in Mabel, impetuously. 'I
+believe he would never let us go even for a walk, if he were at home.'
+
+'Hush, hush, Mabel!' said her mother; 'I wonder you are not ashamed to
+speak of your papa in this disrespectful manner. Besides, you know that
+you are not speaking the truth.'
+
+'Don't let them go, Mrs. Ellis, if it is inconvenient to you,' said Dora
+Maitland; 'we will call another day. I am sure mamma would be very sorry
+to hear that our coming brought any trouble to you.'
+
+'It is not a trouble, of course,' again broke in the impetuous Mabel,
+without waiting her mamma's reply; 'and we shall be home long before
+papa, so nothing need be said to him about our having been out.'
+
+The two young visitors looked at each other, and appeared quite
+distressed at this suggestion. They had been, and rightly so, taught to
+consider deception of any kind as falsehood; but Mrs. Ellis did not
+appear to be of the same opinion, and though she still urged her own ill
+health and the absence of the nurse, she was evidently inclined to yield
+to the continued and earnest request of her daughters.
+
+'We will promise you not to be away more than an hour, dear mamma,' said
+Julia, who was certainly the best of the two girls; and this promise
+being seconded by Mabel very earnestly, poor Mrs. Ellis foolishly gave
+her consent to their going, which consent had no sooner been obtained,
+than the selfish girls darted off to make ready for their walk, leaving
+Dora and Annie very much concerned about what had passed, and determined
+in their own minds to forego the anticipated pleasure of seeing the
+glass beehives till a more convenient season, for fear they should not
+be back at the appointed time.
+
+Mrs. Ellis, as I think I have before stated, had long been very
+delicate; she was of a nervous temperament, and nothing appeared to
+affect her health so much as excitement of any kind. She had been
+ordered lately to be kept perfectly quiet, but this is one of those
+rules that are more easily made than complied with by the mistress of a
+house, and the mother of a family; and, unfortunately for Mrs. Ellis,
+she had no strength of mind to aid her in the discharge of the duties
+that devolved upon her, for she was weakly indulgent both to her
+children, and her servants, and thus she was too often the slave of the
+one, and the dupe of the other.
+
+After the young people had set off for their walk, she sat down to
+consider whether she had done right in letting them go; and remembering
+her husband's prohibition, and the uncertainty of the time at which he
+would return home, she evidently came to an unfavourable conclusion in
+the matter, as she exclaimed aloud; 'I wish I had not let them go!'
+
+Wishing, however, now, was of no avail, and as sundry screams from the
+nursery betokened a misfortune of some kind, the bell was rung for the
+cook to go, and ascertain the cause of the tumult. Fortunately, there
+was no great harm done: poor little Willie had contrived to mount on two
+boxes, which stood side by side, but not close enough together to
+prevent the chubby fat legs from slipping between them; and as Freddy
+and Gertrude in vain attempted to extricate the little fellow from his
+awkward position, they set up a simultaneous scream in token of their
+distress.
+
+Kind-hearted Susan, however, soon set all to rights, for she was
+well-known to carry in her pocket sundry mysterious little sweet balls,
+which, if they were not over-clean, had a remarkable tendency to
+soothe, insomuch that sagacious Master Fred, seeing his sister Mabel one
+day crying with passion, inquired if he should go and ask Susan for one
+of her sugar balls, to do her good; a proposition which that young lady
+highly resented, though the very mention of the said sweets had stopped
+the crying.
+
+But we must return to poor mamma, who had in vain endeavoured to follow
+Susan upstairs, she trembled so violently. When, however, Willie was
+placed on her knee, and she saw the slight nature of the hurt he had
+sustained, she began to feel more composed, for there was really no harm
+done.
+
+The poor lady, however, was not suffered to calm down thus easily, for
+before Susan had time to quit the room, the sound of a key in the front
+door betokened the dreaded return of her husband, and again excited all
+her nervous fears.
+
+'Why have you got the children with you, Ada?' said Mr. Ellis to his
+wife, reproachfully. 'You know that the doctor has told you to keep
+quiet.'
+
+'Yes, I know,' replied Mrs. Ellis, meekly, 'but poor Willie has hurt his
+leg, so Susan brought him down to me.'
+
+'But what has Susan to do with the children?' inquired Mr. Ellis.
+'Surely Mabel and Julia are quite old enough to take care of them,
+without calling Susan from her work in the kitchen! Where are the
+girls?' demanded Mr. Ellis, sharply; 'I hope you have not let them go
+out after what I said this morning.'
+
+'Mrs. Maitland's little girls came to ask them to take a walk, and I did
+not like to refuse them,' said Mrs. Ellis, timidly.
+
+'Then I can only tell you, Ada,' said her husband, with suppressed
+passion, 'that by your foolish weakness you have deprived them of a
+great pleasure. It is not often that I can spare time to go out with
+them, but as I have had some tickets given me to go to a panorama, I
+have, at great inconvenience, come home, in order to take them, and you
+tell me that they are gone out.'
+
+Poor Mrs. Ellis! This was a terrible mortification to her; she felt for
+her husband, and she felt for the disappointment of the girls, though
+they certainly deserved it.
+
+'I am very sorry I let them go, dear Arthur,' she said, 'but they
+pressed me so much that I did not like to refuse.'
+
+'Yes, yes,' said Mr. Ellis, 'I know; it is the old story: you are too
+weak-minded to refuse, and our children are to be ruined for want of
+proper restraint, or else _I_ am to be appealed to in case of
+punishment, and so must be considered by them harsh and unkind. I cannot
+help saying that it is very cruel of you, Ada, to give way to this
+nervous weakness of yours,' continued Mr. Ellis, as he saw the poor lady
+begin to cry; 'the only way will be, I suppose, to send the girls to a
+boarding-school, before you have quite spoiled them.'
+
+Having thus delivered his opinion, Mr. Ellis walked out of the room; and
+soon the rather violent shutting of the front door gave token that he
+had left the house, to the really great sorrow of his wife, who now
+heartily repented having given her consent to what had been the cause of
+so much trouble. But we must leave her to repent at leisure, and follow
+the gay young party, who, notwithstanding some few qualms of conscience
+on their first setting out, soon found plenty to interest them in the
+surrounding villas and gardens, where such diversity of taste is
+displayed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE LOST BROOCH.
+
+
+It was a lovely afternoon in the beginning of August. Some few fleecy
+clouds occasionally intercepted the rather too warm beams of the sun,
+from which our young friends intended to take shelter under the trees in
+the Regent's Park; for Dora and Annie Maitland had wisely determined
+not to mention Thomas Hutton and his glass beehives after what they had
+seen and heard at Camden Terrace, for they well knew that it would be
+impossible to walk that distance, and back again, in an hour.
+
+'I have a beautiful book that my papa gave me yesterday,' said Dora
+Maitland; 'I thought you would like to see it, so I brought it with me.
+We can look at it while we sit to rest in the Park.'
+
+'Oh yes, that will be delightful,' said Mabel; but she almost
+immediately added, 'I think I would rather look at the gay dresses of
+the ladies; we can look at books when we are at home.'
+
+'Mabel is always talking about dress,' said her sister, laughing. 'I'm
+sure I don't care how I am dressed, if I am only clean and neat; it is
+such a trouble to be afraid of spoiling what one has on.'
+
+Julia's opinion was echoed by Dora and Annie Maitland, so Mabel found
+she had no seconder; and they tripped along silently until they arrived
+at the desired spot for resting, a nice seat under the shade of a large
+tree. Here they were just going to seat themselves, when an exclamation
+from Mabel attracted the attention of the others, who inquired eagerly
+what was the matter.
+
+'Oh, the brooch--mamma's beautiful brooch!' said the excited girl, in
+great distress; 'it is gone out of my necktie. Oh, what shall I do? what
+shall I do? It is mamma's favourite brooch; the one that papa gave her
+many years ago. Oh, I cannot go home without it!' continued Mabel, in a
+state of great distress.
+
+'How could you be so foolish as to put it on, when you were only going
+for a country walk?' said Dora Maitland.
+
+'I can't think why you should wear your mamma's brooch at all,' remarked
+Annie, 'unless she gave you leave.'
+
+'But mamma did not give her leave; mamma has forbidden us to wear it,'
+said Julia, 'and I begged Mabel not to put it into her necktie to-day,
+for fear she should lose it; but she would do it, and now all our
+pleasure is spoilt.'
+
+'You need not talk in that way,' angrily retorted her sister; 'you are
+fond enough of putting on mamma's gold chain when she leaves it out of
+the box, though she has often told you not to do so.'
+
+'Hush, hush!' said Dora Maitland; 'quarrelling won't find the brooch;
+and see, there are a lady and gentleman coming toward us. Let us return
+home at once, the same way that we came: there were not many people on
+the road, and if we all look diligently we may find it, though I am much
+afraid that we shall not.'
+
+This advice seemed the best that could be adopted by the young party,
+and they turned their steps homewards in no very enviable state of
+mind. There had been, indeed, much to damp the spirits, and prevent the
+enjoyment of this afternoon's walk. It is true that all around was
+beautiful, but that little monitor within, which insists upon being
+heard whether it is attended to or not, had acted like a thorn in the
+flesh to Mabel and Julia: and though Dora and Annie Maitland had nothing
+really to reproach themselves with, yet they could not forget the pale
+face of poor Mrs. Ellis, and her words of remonstrance to her selfish
+children seemed still to sound in their ears; and now they were
+returning home with a fresh trouble to the invalid lady.
+
+Dora's beautiful book, which had been presented to her by her papa as a
+reward for her kind and dutiful attention to him, when he was suffering
+severely for some days from nervous headache, had of course not been
+thought of; the brooch, the unfortunate brooch, engrossed every faculty;
+yet with all the search, and research, it was not found, and the young
+people took a dolorous leave of each other, and repaired to their
+respective homes.
+
+'Now don't you say a word about the brooch to mamma to-night,' said
+Mabel to her sister; 'I dare say it will be found, and it is no use
+teasing her about it, now she is poorly.
+
+'Mamma is sure to miss the brooch off the dressing-table in the
+morning,' replied Julia; 'and if I am spoken to about it, I am not
+going to tell a story, Mabel.'
+
+'Who wants you to tell a story?' exclaimed Mabel, sharply. 'I know you
+are always very ready to tell tales, when it would be much better for
+you to hold your tongue.'
+
+'You always go on in that way when you are vexed about anything,'
+replied Julia. 'I'm sure I wish we had not gone for a walk; we have had
+no pleasure, all because you would try to make yourself look smart. You
+know, I begged of you not to put on the brooch, but, as papa says, you
+are so wilful!'
+
+'You have no right to repeat what papa says. Better look at your own
+faults than talk about mine,' cried the angry girl, as she opened the
+garden-gate that led to the back door of their residence.
+
+Freddy was looking out of the window, but Mabel took no notice of him,
+but ran straight upstairs to her own bedroom, to take off her things and
+examine minutely her dress, if happily the missing brooch might have
+slipped down into her bosom.
+
+Julia, however, went to inquire how her mamma was, and therefore was the
+first to hear the dismal tidings that papa had come home on purpose to
+take his daughters to a place of entertainment, but finding they were
+not at home, had gone out again very angry, without eating any dinner.
+This, though it put the finishing stroke to that day's disaster, poor
+Julia knew would not be an end to the troubles they would have to
+encounter; for though indeed she was innocent of blame with regard to
+the brooch, she felt she had acted selfishly in leaving her mamma with
+the children, when she saw how tired and poorly Mrs. Ellis appeared to
+be.
+
+'I am very sorry, dear mamma,' said Julia, 'that you have been so
+troubled with the children; I hoped that Susan would have minded them
+while we were out.'
+
+'Well, go now and take off your things, my dear,' replied Mrs. Ellis;
+'then you and Mabel can have tea in the nursery with the children, while
+I rest on the sofa.'
+
+'Yes, dear mamma; they shall go with me at once,' said Julia. 'Come,
+Freddy; come, Gerty; and come, little Willie,' she added, as she took
+the chubby hand in her own, and was leading him away, when her mamma
+said, 'Mind you don't hurt his poor leg, Julia, for he has fallen and
+scraped the skin off.'
+
+'Oh, poor boy!' said his sister, as she took Willie up in her arms; 'let
+us go and put a "passer" on it.' This was always what the little fellow
+called out for, when he hurt himself: 'Oh, put a "passer" on--put a
+"passer" on!'
+
+Mabel was very glad when Julia brought up the children, and told her
+that their mamma was lying down on the sofa, for she had no wish to talk
+just then with anybody. She felt indeed much disquieted, but what her
+feelings were when her sister related the circumstance of their papa's
+coming home, on purpose to take them to a place of amusement, may be
+more easily imagined then described; and yet we fear that self-reproach
+did not, in the smallest degree, mingle with their feelings, so little
+do some people know of _self_.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+THE RECOVERED TREASURE.
+
+
+It was with a feeling of great uneasiness that Mabel awoke the next
+morning. She had not at all made up her mind what to do. She was, as I
+have shown, a very selfish girl, and not by any means of a good
+disposition; indeed, I should say, that no selfish person could be. But
+she was not in the habit of telling direct falsehoods, though she did
+not scruple to prevaricate, if such a course suited her purpose; and
+this practice is certainly not only near akin to falsehood, but leads
+directly to it.
+
+Nothing was said at breakfast-time to make any disturbance, and papa
+went out as usual; while Mabel and Julia, with minds still oppressed by
+the loss on the preceding day, requested mamma to permit them to take
+the children for a walk, before they began lessons.
+
+'It is such a lovely morning,' said Mabel, 'and we can go towards the
+Park, the same way that we went yesterday.'
+
+Of course the brooch was uppermost in Mabel's mind, and indeed in
+Julia's too, though nothing was then said.
+
+'I am quite willing that you should all go, my dears,' said the kind
+mother; 'only remember, little Willie can't walk as fast and as far as
+you can.'
+
+'Et me tan, ma; me walk a long, long way wid pa, and me not tired a
+bit,' said Willie, shaking his curly poll, and running off with Julia,
+who was his favourite, to get dressed.
+
+'Susan, where's my gold brooch?' inquired Mrs. Ellis of the servant, who
+happened to be in the bedroom dusting, when her mistress entered.
+
+'I don't know, I'm sure, ma'am,' replied Susan. 'I saw it on the
+pincushion yesterday, before the young ladies went out; I have not seen
+it since. Perhaps Miss Mabel may be wearing it.'
+
+'Nonsense, Susan!' said Mrs. Ellis; 'how could you think Miss Mabel
+would do such a thing without my leave?'
+
+'Well, ma'am,' answered the steady servant, 'I don't know whether you
+gave leave or not, but I know I have often seen the young lady with the
+brooch in her necktie.'
+
+Mrs. Ellis felt greatly displeased, not of course with Susan, but with
+her daughter; she thought it best, however, to make no further remark at
+present, but to wait until Mabel returned for an explanation of the
+affair.
+
+It is almost needless to say that the morning's walk had neither been
+pleasant nor satisfactory to the two girls, for the treasure they went
+out to seek had not been found, and they returned home sick at heart. I
+say 'they,' because though poor Julia had not been really to blame, she
+sorrowed both on her mamma's and her sister's account; besides which,
+she had a dread of her papa's coming to the knowledge of the untoward
+event.
+
+'Mabel,' said Mrs. Ellis, as soon as that young lady came in, 'have you
+had my brooch on to-day?'
+
+'No, mamma,' was the immediate and the only response to the question,
+the words _to-day_ forming a loophole to creep out at, so as to avoid
+explanation, though that was the very time to make one. Accordingly
+search was again commenced--as we know, without any result.
+
+The midday dinner-hour passed away uncomfortably enough, except for the
+little folks, whose appetite did not seem to be in the least impaired
+by surrounding circumstances; and strange as it may appear, Mrs. Ellis,
+notwithstanding what the servant had told her respecting Mabel's wearing
+the brooch, instead of closely questioning that young lady, permitted
+her to leave the room with the children, while she herself renewed the
+fruitless search. Tired out at last, she sat down in the dining-room, to
+await the coming home of her husband in no very pleasurable state of
+mind. Of course she must tell him of her loss; but she well knew how
+angry he would be, and what a commotion was likely to ensue. However,
+there was no help for it.
+
+'Ada,' said Mr. Ellis to his wife, after he had enjoyed a comfortable
+dinner, and had taken his customary seat in the arm-chair, newspaper in
+hand, 'what has become of that valuable brooch that I gave you on your
+birthday? You used to wear it every day; why have you not got it on
+now?'
+
+The usually pale face of Mrs. Ellis flushed all over at this inquiry,
+but she answered truthfully--Mabel had certainly not learned to tell
+falsehoods, either from her mamma or papa:
+
+'I am very sorry to tell you, Arthur,' said Mrs. Ellis, 'that the brooch
+is missing; I have searched in vain for it, and Susan does not know
+anything about it.'
+
+'Have you inquired of the girls, and the children?' said Mr. Ellis;
+'perhaps they may have seen it.'
+
+'I did ask Mabel when she came in from her walk if she had had it on,'
+replied the lady,' and she said she had not.'
+
+'Call Mabel and Julia down, and let me question them,' said papa;
+'perhaps I may learn more about the brooch than you think.'
+
+'Oh, I'm sure it is no use, my dear,' replied Mrs. Ellis, dreading a
+scene, for she knew how severely her husband was inclined to visit
+faults which she, poor lady, had not courage to grapple with. 'Better
+not disturb yourself about the brooch to-night,' she added; 'we will
+have another search for it to-morrow, and I am sure the girls know
+nothing about it.'
+
+'_I_ am not sure of any such thing,' replied Mr. Ellis, 'and I insist
+upon Mabel and Julia being told to come to me.'
+
+As there was no resisting her husband's authority, the girls were
+summoned to their papa's presence; and though they knew not why it was,
+there was a conscious uneasiness in their minds which certainly did not
+lend wings to their feet.
+
+'Come here, girls,' said their papa, though not in an unkindly tone, as
+they entered the dining-room. 'I want to ask you a few questions. Mind,
+I must have truthful and straightforward answers--no prevarication.'
+
+Mrs. Ellis looked at the two girls, and then at her husband, with
+astonishment, not having the least idea of what was coming; yet she felt
+very uneasy.
+
+'Mabel,' said Mr. Ellis, addressing his eldest daughter, 'you were out
+yesterday?'
+
+'Yes, papa,' replied that young lady; 'Julia and I went for a walk with
+Dora and Annie Maitland.'
+
+'And where did you go?' was the next inquiry, and one very easily
+answered.
+
+'To the Regent's Park, papa,' said Julia; 'but we were there only a
+short time.'
+
+'Now just one more question, and I have done,' said papa; 'did either of
+you girls lose anything while you were out?'
+
+'Oh, papa, yes,' answered Julia instantly--'mamma's brooch. Oh, have you
+found it, papa?' she exclaimed.
+
+'Mamma's brooch!' said Mr. Ellis, with a look of assumed astonishment.
+'Why, which of you presumed to wear your mamma's brooch?' But he added
+almost immediately, 'I need not inquire further: I am sorry to say I
+have had some sad experience of deception in my eldest daughter, and
+have observed in her that silly vanity, that makes outside show a cover
+for inward defects. Go!' he added sternly to Mabel; 'I have nothing
+more to say to you to-night. It nearly sickens me to think that I have a
+daughter base enough to conceal faults, which she is not afraid of
+committing.'
+
+With conscious shame and distress, Mabel quitted the dining-room; and
+Julia also was retreating, when her papa told her to remain, as he had
+something to say to her.
+
+Though Julia felt very sorry for her sister, and would have been glad to
+speak a word of comfort to her, yet she was so anxious to hear from her
+papa something about the lost brooch, that she was not at all reluctant
+to remain; so planting herself by her mother's side, she stood patiently
+to listen to what further Mr. Ellis had to say.
+
+'Did you know, Julia, that Mabel had on your mamma's brooch when you
+went for a walk?' inquired papa.
+
+Julia hung down her head, yet she answered truthfully;
+
+'Yes, papa, I did know, for I begged her not to wear it.'
+
+'And when she persisted in doing so, why did you not appeal to your
+mamma?'
+
+To this question there came no response, so Mr. Ellis continued:
+
+'Let me warn you, my little girl,' he said kindly, 'never to connive at
+faults in your brothers or sisters; it is to them a cruel kindness,
+which both they and you may live to be sorry for in after life.'
+
+As Mr. Ellis said this, he drew from his waistcoat-pocket the glittering
+trinket, which had been the innocent cause of so much anxiety, and
+placing it in his wife's hand, said:
+
+'Now, my dear, I advise you to be more careful of your _jewels_, or you
+may lose far more precious ones than this brooch.'
+
+As he made this remark he nodded to Julia, though Mrs. Ellis well
+understood what her husband meant.
+
+'Now, my little girl, you may go and join the children, while I tell
+mamma how I came by the brooch.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+A FRIEND IN NEED.
+
+
+Julia was very glad indeed to see the brooch again, and glad also to
+receive a dismissal, as she longed to tell her sister the good news.
+
+'And now, my dear,' said Mr. Ellis, when they were alone, 'I suppose you
+want to learn the particulars respecting the lost and found.'
+
+'Indeed I do, Arthur,' replied his wife; 'it seems a marvellous thing
+to me how the brooch should have come into your possession, or indeed
+how it was found at all.'
+
+'Well, it all came about without any magic, as you shall hear,' said her
+husband. 'You remember the young lady, Miss Vernon, who was staying a
+short time in the winter with our friends the Maitlands, and whom we
+were invited to meet?'
+
+'Oh yes, I remember her quite well; I thought her so very pretty, and
+she sang so delightfully. But what of her?' inquired Mrs. Ellis.
+
+'Well,' replied the gentleman, 'that lady is now a Mrs. Norton; she is
+married to a friend of mine--an old friend, I should say, for we went to
+school together.'
+
+'Then he must be considerably older than the lady,' said Mrs. Ellis,
+'for I think she is not twenty yet.'
+
+'You are right there, my dear,' said her husband; 'I dare say Norton is
+twice her age: but he is a fine-looking man--and,' added Mr. Ellis, with
+a significant smile, 'he has plenty of money, Ada: you know what a bait
+that is for the ladies.'
+
+'No, I don't know any such thing, Arthur,' replied the lady, warmly;
+'and I don't like to hear such things said. Men much oftener marry for
+money than women do.'
+
+'Well, we will discuss that point some other time, my dear,' said Mr.
+Ellis; 'but now for my story:
+
+'As I was walking through the Strand this morning, who should I meet but
+the couple we were speaking of. I did not know them at first, but as
+they stopped short, and prevented my passing, I soon recognised both
+lady and gentleman, though it is many years since I saw the latter.
+
+'After the usual congratulations and shaking of hands had been gone
+through, my friend said:
+
+'"Well, I certainly did not expect to meet you here, Ellis, though,
+strange to say, you are the very person we came out to call upon; for,
+strangely enough, I have in my possession a brooch, which, I feel sure,
+must belong to your good wife, as it has her name, Ada Ellis, engraven
+on the back. Am I right?" added Norton, taking the brooch from his
+pocket, and handing it to me.
+
+'"Yes," I said, "this is certainly my wife's brooch, but how it could
+come into your possession is a mystery to me."
+
+'"It need not be so long, if you will just walk into the Temple Gardens
+with us. I am going to call on a friend there, and we shall be out of
+all this noise and bustle," said Norton.
+
+'As I was not just then under any engagement, I turned back with them,
+and heard the story of the lost and found. It is a very simple one, and
+I give it in his own words,' said Mr. Ellis.
+
+'"You know Mr. and Mrs. Maitland," began Mr. Norton; "my wife says that
+she met you at their house last winter, and as they are very old and
+kind friends of hers, and our stay in town will be short, we set off
+yesterday morning to call upon them. Unfortunately, the two nice little
+girls were out, so we did not see them, though I hope we shall do so
+before we leave London. After leaving Mr. Maitland's, we strolled
+towards the Regent's Park; and when we had pretty well tired ourselves,
+we made towards a pleasant seat under the shade of a magnificent tree. A
+party of young ladies were just leaving the spot which we had selected,
+but as they were intently looking on the ground, with their backs
+towards us, they, I suppose, did not notice our approach; nor could we,
+at the distance we were, recognise them.
+
+'"In this pleasant spot we remained for some time, and on rising to go,
+my wife saw just at her foot, though it was partially hidden by a tuft
+of grass, the valuable brooch which I have just had the pleasure to
+restore to you, and which it was our intention to place in your hands at
+your own home, had we not thus accidentally met you. Very glad indeed I
+am that we should have come upon the track of the young ladies, who
+could be none other but the little Maitlands and your fair daughters.
+To-morrow, I hope to bring my wife to Camden Terrace, and to introduce
+her to your good lady as Mrs. Norton, instead of Laura Vernon."
+
+'Now, my dear,' said Mr. Ellis, 'you have got your brooch, and its
+recent history. I strongly advise you to take more care of the one, and
+on no account to forget the other.'
+
+'I will try to take your advice, my dear,' said the lady. 'I am so glad,
+so very glad, that my brooch is found.'
+
+'And I am so sorry, so very sorry, Ada,' said Mr. Ellis, 'that we have a
+daughter so prone to the detestable vices of pride, vanity, and deceit!'
+
+'Oh, don't be too hard upon poor Mabel, dear,' said her mamma; 'she is
+very young. You must forgive this childish trick.'
+
+'Trick!' said Mr. Ellis, bitterly--'yes, you have given it a right name,
+Ada; but I hate tricks.'
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A FRIENDLY PROPOSITION.
+
+
+The morning after the foregoing occurrence found Mabel very dull, and
+very captious. She was of course glad to know that the brooch had been
+found, but very uneasy at the manner of finding it. She was not, in
+truth, sorry for the fault that she had committed, but her proud spirit
+chafed at the idea of being talked about in the Maitland family,
+especially as she knew that a young cousin of theirs, Harry Maitland,
+was expected to pay them a visit on this very day, when the whole affair
+was sure to be canvassed.
+
+But we will leave Mabel to her own uneasy thoughts, and look in at the
+pleasant family party assembled in the breakfast-room of the Laurels, as
+Mr. Maitland's residence was designated. This villa, as we know,
+adjoined that of Aunt Mary, who at this time was on a visit with her
+niece Clara to that young lady's widowed mother, Mrs. Beaumont. Cousin
+Harry had arrived, and made one of the happy group, who were sitting,
+books and work in hand, for they were never idle, enjoying the fresh
+pure air of the morning, and the delicious smell of flowers, of which
+there was a profusion both outside and in. The garden, indeed, was
+resplendent with variety and beauty of colouring, softly shaded down by
+the laurels, which gave their name to the villa.
+
+Mr. Maitland had been reading a book of travels, and he was now
+descanting on the uses and properties of the Eucalyptus, or blue
+gum-tree of Australia, which is said to grow as much in seven years, as
+an oak will grow in twenty; attains sometimes the height of three and
+four hundred feet, drains the ground, attracts rain, prevents malaria,
+etc.
+
+'But do you really believe, sir, all that is written about this
+wonderful tree?' inquired Harry Maitland, who had been making a sketch
+of the said tree, from the description which his uncle had been reading
+to them.
+
+'Certainly, I do believe all that is stated of it,' replied Mr.
+Maitland. 'Why should I doubt well-accredited writers and eye-witnesses?
+The most extraordinary fact respecting it is, its health-diffusing
+properties, which, as I read, makes me wonder why strenuous efforts have
+not been made for its cultivation in England. I know there have been,
+and there are, some efforts made, but not on an extensive scale. There
+are some young trees in the Kew Gardens, which, before you leave us,
+Harry, I hope we shall go to see.'
+
+Just as Mr. Maitland was beginning to read again, he was interrupted by
+a smart rap-tap at the front door; and immediately after, the servant
+announced Mr. and Mrs. Norton.
+
+'Dear Laura,' exclaimed Mrs. Maitland, kissing her young friend,' I am
+very glad to see you again, though I did not expect you would be out so
+early this morning. I see,' added the lady, 'I need not introduce Dora
+and Annie; though you did not see them yesterday, it is evident they
+have not forgotten you.'
+
+Indeed they had not, for each had seized a hand of their favourite, and
+had given and received a warm salute.
+
+While these kindly salutations were going on, Mr. Maitland and Harry
+were exchanging courtesies with their friend Mr. Norton, for Cousin
+Harry was no stranger to that gentleman, who had often been a visitor at
+his father's house--or rather I should say rectory, in Kent--always an
+agreeable one, for he had travelled much, and could make himself a most
+interesting companion.
+
+'I did not tell you yesterday, Mr. Maitland,' said their visitor, 'that
+we leave England for Australia in a week's time; I know under the
+circumstances you will excuse this early and unceremonious visit, as we
+wish to spend as much time as possible with our friends, and to have
+some little excursions with the young people.'
+
+'Are you really going to leave England so soon, and going so far away?'
+inquired Mr. Maitland, rather dolefully. 'I am so sorry for our own
+sakes, but I hope it will be to your own great advantage.'
+
+'Yes, I hope so too,' replied Mr. Norton; 'our prospects are very fair;
+the climate is good, and I have many friends located there.'
+
+'And you will be in the native land of this magnificent tree we have
+been reading about,' said Harry, 'the blue gum tree. Do, Mr. Norton,
+write and tell us all you know about it.'
+
+'Harry is quite sceptical respecting its merits,' said Mr. Maitland,
+laughing. 'I do hope you will be able to convince him that what he has
+read and heard about it is all quite true.'
+
+'I am sorry to say that I have never yet turned my attention to the
+subject, but I make Master Harry a promise that I will do so, and that I
+will give him all possible information I can gain on the subject; but
+just now,' added the gentleman, 'we have a proposal to make, which we
+must not defer, as our time is so short. It is this,' continued Mr.
+Norton, 'that we all spend a pleasant day together at some place of
+amusement, to be chosen by the young ladies. We are to spend this
+evening at Camden Terrace, with our kind friends Mr. and Mrs. Ellis. I
+hope you will be there, and then we can settle our plans for to-morrow.'
+
+'We have been invited,' said Mrs. Maitland, 'but unfortunately we had a
+prior engagement; but I promise you, Mr. Norton, that in whatever
+direction you may decide to go to-morrow, we will accompany you.'
+
+'Stop, stop, my dear,' interrupted Mr. Maitland; 'you are reckoning
+without your host, although he happens to be in the room with you. Do
+you forget that I have to set off early in the morning to pay a visit to
+a sick friend who is particularly anxious to see me?'
+
+'Well, we shall be very sorry to go without you, Maitland,' replied Mr.
+Norton; 'but I suppose Master Harry, here, will try to supply your place
+to the young ladies, and we must do as well as we can.'
+
+'Did you hear about our finding Mrs. Ellis's brooch yesterday, in the
+Regent's Park?' inquired Mrs. Norton; 'but perhaps you have not seen any
+of them. It was a curious accident.'
+
+'The brooch!' exclaimed Dora and Annie, simultaneously. 'Did you really
+find the brooch? Oh, we are so glad! We told dear mamma about it, and
+she was as sorry as we were, but we have not seen Mabel or Julia since.
+How did you happen to find it, Mrs. Norton?'
+
+'We went to seat ourselves under the shade of the trees,' replied the
+lady. 'We saw you in the distance, but did not know who you were; and I
+dare say you did not see us, for you were all looking on the ground.'
+
+'Yes, of course we were,' said Dora; 'we were searching for the brooch.
+And I remember we did see a lady and gentleman coming towards us; we
+went away sooner on that account, for Mabel was in such a temper I felt
+ashamed of anyone coming near us, though she was the only person to
+blame, as she ought not to have worn her mamma's brooch.'
+
+'Hush, hush! my little girl!' said papa; 'don't you know that our motto
+is, "If you cannot speak good of a person, say nothing at all of them."'
+
+'Bravo! bravo!' cried Mr. Norton. 'I heartily wish that this golden rule
+were adopted in every family. What a world of trouble would be saved,
+and how much more time there would be for profitable conversation!'
+
+'Well,' said Mrs. Maitland, 'we are all heartily glad that the treasure
+is recovered; and perhaps its temporary loss, and the uneasiness it
+occasioned, may be a useful lesson to the young people.'
+
+The visitors now took leave of their friends, promising themselves the
+pleasure of seeing them in the morning, at the early hour of eleven, in
+order that they might have a long day together. It was also agreed that,
+to save time and trouble, the parties were to meet at the Park, if no
+objection were raised to the proposed plan by Mr. and Mrs. Ellis.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
+
+
+It was a lovely day, this 10th of August; there was scarcely a cloud to
+be seen in the sky. The trees, it is true, were beginning to put on
+their russet tints here and there, but this only added to the beauty of
+their colouring; there certainly was at present no disagreeable
+appearance of coming changes.
+
+It had been agreed, on the preceding evening, that Mr. and Mrs. Norton
+should call for Mabel and Julia, as Mr. Ellis had declared that he could
+not spare time for a day's pleasure, and poor Mrs. Ellis said that she
+felt too weak at present to undertake the task of wandering about in the
+Gardens.
+
+This was a great disappointment to their friends the Nortons, who were
+not quite sure that Mrs. Maitland would be able to accompany her young
+people, as she had intimated a doubt on the subject before they bade
+adieu on the preceding evening: however, they made up their minds that
+it would be a pleasant day for the juveniles. Mr. Ellis had strongly
+objected to Mabel's making one of the party; he insisted that it would
+be only a proper punishment to deprive her of the pleasure on account
+of the recent delinquency. He was, however, over-ruled in his opinion,
+both by his wife and his friends, and so, very reluctantly, he was
+induced to give up the point.
+
+As usual, Mabel's first consideration in the morning, after her papa had
+gone out, was what she should wear on this eventful day; and on her
+mamma's suggesting that she and Julia should put on their grey dresses,
+she was vehemently opposed by that young lady, who declared she would
+rather stay at home than go to the Gardens with Mr. and Mrs. Norton in
+such a dowdy dress.
+
+Julia, on the contrary, was quite content to follow her mamma's advice,
+as she very wisely agreed that if they put on their light silk dresses,
+they might have them soiled, or perhaps spoiled. This idea, however, was
+treated with contempt by Mabel, and the young lady waxed so warm in the
+discussion, that the too indulgent, peace-loving Mrs. Ellis gave way,
+and gave permission to her daughters to do as they thought proper, only
+she warned them that they had no time to lose.
+
+Away tripped the sisters to make ready--Julia with a determination to
+follow her mamma's advice, Mabel with the intention of keeping her own
+foolish resolve of pride and vanity.
+
+An obstacle, however, presented itself on the first putting on of the
+silk dress: it had not been worn for some time, as during the summer
+muslins had superseded silk, and Mabel found, to her great disgust, that
+the sleeves were too short. She had certainly known of this before, but
+as she was by no means remarkable for provident care of her clothes, in
+taking pains to keep them in order, a button wanting, or a rent
+unmended, or a sleeve too short, were things not at all to be wondered
+at in Mabel's wardrobe.
+
+'How provoking!' she exclaimed, as she looked at her wrists; 'I cannot
+possibly go out unless I have under-sleeves, and I haven't a pair.'
+
+'Oh, do as mamma wished,' said Julia; 'put on your grey frock. You will
+be much more comfortable, because you won't be afraid of spoiling it.'
+
+'Hold your tongue, you foolish little thing,' replied Mabel. 'I tell you
+I wouldn't be seen out with Mr. and Mrs. Norton, with such a dress as
+you are wearing; besides,' she continued, 'Harry Maitland will be with
+his cousins.'
+
+'And what of that?' exclaimed Julia, in astonishment; 'surely you don't
+mind what he thinks about your dress!'
+
+There was no direct answer to this remark, but Mabel declared she was
+not going to submit to her younger sister's dictation; and as a capital
+idea seemed just then to strike her, she went to one of the small
+drawers which indeed belonged to her mamma, and took from thence a pair
+of beautiful lace sleeves and proceeded to put them on.
+
+'Oh, don't, don't!' cried Julia; 'pray do not wear those beautiful
+sleeves of mamma's! you know dear Aunt Mary gave them to her, and as
+they are her work, mamma values them so much! Pray remember the brooch,'
+she added; 'or if you will persist in putting them on, go and ask leave
+first.'
+
+'I mean to ask mamma when we go downstairs,' said Mabel, 'but you know I
+have not time now. I wish you would not be so officious with your advice
+and your cautions, just as if I didn't know how to act as well as you
+do.'
+
+With the promise that mamma should be spoken to, Julia was obliged to be
+satisfied, as a loud tapping at the front-door betokened the arrival of
+their friends Mr. and Mrs. Norton; and the two girls hastily finished
+their dressing and their discussion, and went down to join their
+friends.
+
+Whether, in the hurry of salutations and leave-taking, Mabel actually
+_forgot_ her promise to speak to her mamma about the sleeves, we shall
+not undertake to say; certain it is, that there was no mention made of
+them. And the party set off in high spirits to join their young friends
+the Maitlands, as had been agreed, at the gate of the Zoological
+Gardens.
+
+There had been strict punctuality on both sides, for neither party had
+to wait.
+
+But great was Mabel's mortification to find Dora and Annie had, like her
+sister Julia, dressed themselves in their plain grey frocks, so _she_
+looked like a golden pheasant among a set of barn-door fowls: and
+however much vanity she possessed, her common sense taught her that she
+had laid herself open to ridicule; though of course no one spoke of her
+dress, and even the beautiful sleeves seemed at the time to attract no
+attention.
+
+In a very short time, the whole party were intently gazing with wonder
+and admiration on the marvels of creation.
+
+The elephants, the giraffe, the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, etc., all
+passed in review, and elicited remarks of wonder and astonishment from
+the young visitors, such as their monstrous size and great strength were
+well calculated to draw forth. The lions, tigers, leopards and bears
+came in for a share of applause; but as the strength of these animals is
+not evidenced by their size, I must acknowledge they were taken less
+notice of than either the huge creatures or the smaller and more elegant
+and delicate quadrupeds, which, generally speaking, won the admiration
+of the party. The bipeds, we may be sure, were not neglected; but the
+congregated tribe of them kept up such an incessant clatter, that having
+borne it for some little time, Harry Maitland was fain to stop his ears
+and run out of their house, declaring that 'their noise was worse than
+could be made by a hundred scolding women.' A very ungallant
+declaration, certainly, for a young gentleman, and one that he had not,
+and was never likely to have, the opportunity of proving the truth of.
+Harry was soon joined by the young ladies, whom the noise of the
+parrot-house had nearly deafened, and a general resolution was put, and
+carried by the whole party, Mabel herself not excepted, that fine
+plumage did not at all make amends for disagreeable propensities.
+
+'And now,' said Harry Maitland, with just one sly glance at the bright
+silk frock, whose wearer was standing beside him, 'suppose we go and pay
+a visit to our friends the monkeys? That is to say, young ladies,' he
+added, 'if you don't think it would be jumping out of the frying-pan
+into the fire, and can endure smell better than noise.'
+
+'Oh yes!' was the general exclamation; 'do let us go and see the
+monkeys.'
+
+'Who has got any biscuits or nuts?' inquired Dora Maitland. 'I haven't
+got anything.'
+
+'I have some pieces of biscuit left from what I bought for the
+elephants,' said Mabel.
+
+'And I have nuts in my pocket,' said Harry; 'while the monkeys are
+cracking them, we can be cracking our jokes.' But these proved to be
+rather unpleasant ones, to one at least of the party, who, nevertheless,
+as she could not foresee what was coming, was the first to laugh at
+Harry's silly speech.
+
+The monkey-house proved, as they thought it would, anything but
+agreeable to the olfactory nerves of our young friends; though their
+attention was soon diverted from what was offensive, by the very amusing
+gymnastics of the monkeys, who, while they performed their various feats
+of skill, had evidently an eye to the main chance, and kept a vigilant
+look-out for something more substantial than applause.
+
+'Give this old fellow a bit of your biscuit, Mabel,' said Dora Maitland;
+'he is evidently expecting some from us.'
+
+Now we know that monkeys, though they are anxious expectants, are not
+very gracious receivers, which poor Mabel, who seemed to, be the doomed
+person, found to her cost, when, on stretching out her arm to give the
+required morsel, the ungrateful recipient caught hold of the beautiful
+lace sleeve, tore it from her arm, doubled it up in an instant, and
+thrust it into his mouth, clambering with great rapidity to the very
+top of his habitation, as if afraid of pursuit, and looking down with a
+hideous grin on the astonished and disgusted parties below.
+
+'Oh, poor mamma's beautiful lace sleeve!' ejaculated Julia, to the great
+annoyance of the trembling and affrighted Mabel, on whom all eyes were
+now turned.
+
+'Oh, what a pity! what a pity!' sounded on every side; but there was no
+redress, and Mabel, unable to restrain her tears, or to give vent to her
+varied feelings of anger, scorn, and vexation, rushed out of the
+monkey-house, leaving Julia to explain, and her friends to condole. All
+the party except Harry Maitland had before seen, and very greatly
+admired, these sleeves of Mrs. Ellis's, which, as I said before, were
+Aunt Mary's work; and sorry, very sorry, were both Dora and Annie
+Maitland to hear that Mabel had put them on without her mamma's leave.
+'Well, it's no use being sorry now,' cried Harry Maitland; 'we can't
+restore the sleeve, that's certain. I wonder how girls can be so foolish
+as to dress themselves up, when they come to such a place as
+this--especially,' he added sarcastically, 'in other people's finery.'
+
+'I am glad Mabel was not near enough to hear your remarks, Harry,' said
+his cousin Dora; 'I am sure she must be quite enough troubled, without
+our saying anything disagreeable.'
+
+'Yes, but she brought the trouble upon herself, and therefore she
+deserves to suffer,' persisted Harry; 'the worst of it is,' he added,
+'she makes innocent people suffer for her fault.'
+
+'Let us go and see after Mabel,' said the kind-hearted Annie; 'I think
+we have all had enough of the monkeys to-day.'
+
+'Yes, one young lady has had rather too much of them,' said Harry, 'or
+rather, I should say, the monkey has had too much of her; though the old
+fellow appears to be quite satisfied with the trick he has played.'
+
+'There is Mabel,' cried Julia, as they came out of the monkey-house.
+'Poor thing, don't let us say anything more about the sleeve; I am sure
+she must feel very uncomfortable.'
+
+'I wonder where we shall find Mr. and Mrs. Norton,' said Dora; 'we have
+been a long time away from them: perhaps they are looking after us.'
+
+'I'll tell you where I think they are,' said Harry; 'it is about the
+time for the sea-lion to exhibit himself, and we had better bend our
+steps that way, for we are almost sure of finding the lady and gentleman
+there;' and it proved to be the fact, for among the numerous spectators
+which the sea-lions had attracted, our young friends soon singled out
+Mr. and Mrs. Norton. The flushed face and tear-swollen eyes of Mabel did
+not escape the notice of the lady, but seeing that she turned away, and
+appeared anxious to avoid observation, Mrs. Norton made no remark, and
+soon all the party were interested spectators of the various exploits of
+the marine prodigy.
+
+Suddenly, however, a violent plunge of the animal into the water, on the
+side near which our friends were standing, sent a rather unpleasant
+shower-bath among the crowd, and caused a sudden retreat, though it did
+not take place in time for all of them to avoid a wetting. I am sorry to
+say that Mabel's silk frock came in for a share; but this would not
+really have mattered much, if, in her hurry to get out of the way, she
+had not unfortunately set her foot on the skirt of it, which made her
+fall on one knee, and thus come in contact with the wet soil and gravel,
+which, however harmless they might have proved to a grey dress, by no
+means improved the colour of a light silk one. 'Misfortunes never come
+alone,' it is said; and though I am not myself a firm believer in this
+proverb, it certainly proved true with regard to Mabel Ellis, though
+these misfortunes were entirely the results of her pride and self-will,
+so she does not deserve our commiseration.
+
+It was evident, too, that she did not wish for sympathy just then, for
+brushing off the soil from her dress, and making very light of the
+matter, she seemed to say: 'I don't want your sympathy; please to keep
+it to yourselves.'
+
+Of course my readers will not suppose that the young lady really was
+indifferent to the spoiling of her dress, but she had so much silly
+pride in her composition, that she thought to appear sorry would lower
+her in the eyes of her companions. She certainly did not judge _them_
+correctly, nor had she as yet, poor girl, reached the climax of her
+troubles; but for this we must go a little further, and see the party
+comfortably seated at one of the marble tables in the elegant
+refreshment-rooms, where tea, and sandwiches, and buns are plentifully
+provided, and highly appreciated by the young ramblers after their long
+walk and sight-seeing, which are both very exhausting, and require
+refreshment, and relaxation, and rest. Seated round this pleasant table,
+and in the enjoyment of the good things that were placed thereon, the
+spirits of the young ones of the party rose considerably; and Harry
+Maitland, who was quick-witted and fond of joking, created plenty of
+juvenile mirth by his remarks upon the monkey tribe, though of course he
+avoided saying anything that might lead to unpleasant inquiries.
+
+It happened, unfortunately, that when the lace sleeve had been so
+ruthlessly torn from Mabel's arm by the audacious monkey, it did not
+occur to that young lady to make sure of the other sleeve by taking it
+off and putting it into her pocket. Instead of acting thus prudently,
+she contented herself with tucking the lace up under its elastic band--a
+very treacherous safeguard, as it proved.
+
+Our friend Harry, as the young squire of the party, was very attentive
+to the ladies, as indeed he always was; but it happened unfortunately
+that in handing a plate of buns to his opposite neighbour, Mabel, he
+became the innocent cause of another disaster to that most luckless
+damsel, for the lace that had been so unceremoniously tucked out of
+sight, having escaped from the elastic band, attached itself to the
+handle of Mabel's cup, as she reached out her hand to take the offered
+bun, and upset the whole of its contents, which, though the greater part
+of the fluid went into the saucer, quite sufficient found its way into
+Mabel's dress to put the finishing stroke to her misfortunes.
+
+Hastily jumping up, and without waiting for any condolence or
+assistance, the excited girl rushed out of the room, followed by Julia,
+whose kind heart really ached to see her sister so distressed.
+
+'Don't follow them out, my dears,' said Mrs. Norton to Dora and Annie
+Maitland, who had risen from their chairs to do so. 'I am sure,' she
+continued, 'that Mabel would much rather be without your sympathy, and
+you cannot possibly render her any assistance. Poor foolish girl,' added
+the lady, 'I cannot say I am sorry for _her_; but I well know what
+trouble she must give her mamma, whom I really am sorry for.'
+
+'But, Laura dear,' inquired Mr. Norton, 'don't you suspect that some
+blame must attach itself to the young lady's mother? Faults, you know,
+like ill weeds, grow apace if they are not corrected; and the weeds, if
+suffered to grow rank, will destroy the beautiful flowers which we
+expected to see in our gardens. Is it not so, do you think?'
+
+'Yes, you are quite right, no doubt,' replied the lady; 'and I fear that
+my poor friend, Mrs. Ellis, will find it very difficult, if not
+impossible, to correct faults, which, through weak indulgence, seem to
+have taken deep root. But,' added Mrs. Norton, rising to go, 'this is no
+place for sermonising. We have had a pleasant day, notwithstanding the
+troubles of our young friends; we had better look after them now, and
+wend our way homewards.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.
+
+
+'No, my dear, I am determined that Mabel shall not go with her sister to
+Mrs. Maitland's juvenile party. You over-ruled my wish yesterday, and
+suffered her to go to the Gardens, and I think you have been properly
+punished for that' (alluding to the sleeves). 'To-day I insist on having
+my way. It is most painful to me to see, as I cannot help doing, that
+through your weakness of character, or want of discipline, Mabel has
+grown up to be a plague to us, instead of a comfort.'
+
+This unwelcome truth was uttered by Mr. Ellis before he left home on the
+morning after the visit to the Gardens; and he added, before he left the
+room:
+
+'I am very glad that your sister, Aunt Mary, is coming home this week,
+for I intend to ask her as a particular favour to take Mabel under her
+care. I wish we had sent her to Oak Villa twelve months ago; we might
+have been spared much trouble.'
+
+This parting rebuke and warning had the usual effect of making Mrs.
+Ellis very nervous; she could not bear the thought of communicating the
+ill news it contained to Mabel. She had come to have almost a childish
+dread of the girl's temper, yet she knew well that her husband's mandate
+must be obeyed. There could no greater trial come to Mabel, at least so
+she thought, than to deprive her of the pleasure of this visit; and the
+indulgent mamma shrunk with great pain from the task, which had been
+imposed upon her: yet there was no escape.
+
+As the girls had finished breakfast and left the room before their papa
+went out, they of course had not heard his disagreeable intimation, and
+they were now in their own rooms, looking over their dresses.
+
+'What will you do, Mabel?' inquired Julia, 'about your silk frock? You
+cannot possibly wear it to-day; it is quite spoiled in front with the
+tea. I know mamma did not notice it last night, though she and papa were
+so angry about your wearing it, and about the sleeves too.'
+
+'Now just mind your own business, if you please,' said the uncourteous
+Mabel. 'I hear,' she added, 'that papa has gone out, so I shall go down
+and coax mamma to get a dress for me. I have seen plenty of pretty
+dresses in the shop windows, some of them very cheap; I dare say she
+won't object to buy me one.'
+
+After the delivery of this speech Mabel hastily left the room, and, as
+she had expected, found her mamma still seated in the breakfast-room,
+but looking very sad.
+
+She had not, however, at all _expected_ to hear the unwelcome truth
+which had now to be told, and which greeted her on the first mention of
+a new dress.
+
+'You need not trouble yourself about a new dress, my dear Mabel,' said
+her mother, sorrowfully. 'Your papa says, that he will not allow you to
+go with your sister to Mrs. Maitland's party.'
+
+'Not to go!' exclaimed the astonished girl; 'and do _you_, mamma, say
+that I am not to go?' she inquired, actually stamping her foot in rage.
+
+'_I_ have no say in the matter, Mabel,' replied her mother; 'your papa's
+will must be obeyed. He thinks that it is my fault that you are so proud
+and wilful, and he has made up his mind to send you next week to your
+aunt Mary, where you will be taught and disciplined, and he hopes in
+time become a sensible girl, like your cousin Clara.'
+
+'Mamma, mamma!' exclaimed the passionate girl, with vehemence, 'I hate
+Clara, and Aunt Mary too. I would rather die than go and live at Oak
+Villa, with that cross-grained old aunt and stupid cousin.'
+
+'Mabel,' said Mrs. Ellis, greatly shocked at hearing such expressions,
+'it is very wicked of you to give way to your passion, and to make such
+unjust remarks as you have made, both of your aunt and cousins. Neither
+is your aunt cross, nor your cousin Clara stupid; though cross if they
+were, you would still be obliged to submit to your papa's decision.
+Remember,' continued Mrs. Ellis, 'you have brought the trouble upon
+yourself, and you have been repeatedly warned of the consequences if you
+did not amend. Now it is too late, for I am persuaded that nothing
+either you or I could say would alter your papa's determination.'
+
+A passionate burst of tears was all the reply that the humbled, but not
+penitent, Mabel, could make. She sat herself down on a low stool, and
+covering her face with her hands, continued to cry and sob, in spite of
+the kind remonstrances of her mamma, and even of her promises to
+intercede for her. Mabel knew that what her mother had before stated was
+quite true, and that all intercession with papa now would be in vain;
+and she was too much absorbed in selfish sorrow to care anything, even
+if she thought anything, of the pain she was giving to her poor mother,
+though she well knew that any trouble of mind increased the malady with
+which that lady was affected. Her own mortification, her own bitter
+disappointment, it was the thought of these that kept the sluices of
+sorrow open such an unreasonable time; and when Julia, on coming into
+the room, went to speak some words of comfort to her sister, she
+received a blow on the face which made her nose bleed, though certainly
+it was not intended, for the passionate girl was not aware of Julia's
+close proximity, as she threw out her hand only to indicate that she
+wanted no condolence.
+
+This accident, however, had the beneficial effect, for a time, of
+turning the current of Mabel's ideas from self. She was indeed shocked
+to see what she had done, though kind-hearted Julia made light of the
+blow, and declared it did not pain her at all.
+
+'I am sure you must all hate me--I think everybody hates me,' cried
+impetuous Mabel; 'but I didn't mean to hurt you, Julia, and I am very,
+very sorry for what I have done.'
+
+'Oh, I know you are,' replied her sister; 'don't think anything more
+about it. And don't cry any more, dear; I can't bear to see you cry;'
+and she added in a whisper, 'It makes mamma ill.'
+
+This little episode had done more to convince Mrs. Ellis of the wisdom
+of her husband's plan, with regard to his daughter Mabel, than all that
+he had said previously on the subject; and she made up her mind to offer
+no opposition to anything he might propose. Coming to this conclusion,
+she dismissed Mabel and Julia, under the plea that it was absolutely
+necessary that she should remain quiet for a time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+THE JUVENILE PARTY.
+
+
+The morning after the visit to the Gardens was temptingly fine; and at
+breakfast-time, Harry Maitland proposed a trip to the Kew Gardens,
+where, he said, there would be no fear of monkey tricks, and they would
+have the satisfaction of seeing specimens of the famous blue gum tree.
+
+'But you have forgotten, I think,' said his cousin Dora, 'that we are
+expecting two of your school-fellows and their two sisters; Mabel and
+Julia Ellis, and the vicar's son and daughter, Robert and Edith
+Newland.'
+
+'Oh yes, I had quite forgotten the party,' replied Harry; 'I beg
+everybody's pardon for being so careless. I will do as you suggest,
+aunt, and help Dora and Annie to prepare for the guests.'
+
+'Thank you, my dear,' said Mrs. Maitland; 'I shall be glad to avail
+myself of your services, especially as I hear your cousins wish to have
+tea on the lawn, where there will be plenty of room for you to display
+your taste. I am only sorry that our good neighbour Miss Livesay, and
+her niece Clara, have not yet come home; so that we shall not have the
+pleasure of their company.'
+
+'O, we are all very sorry on that account,' said Dora, 'for there is no
+one like Aunt Mary, as we call her, for making everybody feel happy and
+joyful. We call her the _sunbeam_,' added Dora; 'and Clara Beaumont we
+call the _evening star_, she is so gentle and quiet, though she is
+quicker at her lessons than we are, a great deal.'
+
+'I remember Clara,' said Harry Maitland; 'poor girl, I think she was in
+mourning for her father when I was here in the winter. I thought she was
+a very nice girl, and I too am sorry that she won't be here this
+afternoon.'
+
+'I believe Miss Livesay is expected home to-morrow,' said Mrs. Maitland,
+'so you will have an opportunity of meeting with both her and her niece,
+Harry; but now, young people, you must set yourself to work, for I have
+many things to arrange in household matters, and can have nothing to do
+with decoration. Fruits and flowers, festoons and garlands, I leave
+entirely in your hands; I have the fullest confidence in your taste,'
+added the lady, laughing, and bidding them good-morning, and wishing
+them all success in their delightful occupation.
+
+The Laurels, or Laurel Villa, as it was sometimes called, was a most
+desirable residence. Exactly like Oak Villa, its next-door neighbour,
+in size and appearance, so far as the house was concerned; but the
+gardens differed very materially, Mr. Maitland's being so well stocked,
+or so over-stocked with laurels, that they had actually given a name to
+the pleasant abode.
+
+We won't complain of them, for they formed a delightful shade to many a
+rustic seat in the large back garden, and kept quite secluded the front
+of the house. The breakfast-room, which was at the back part of the
+house, opened on to the lawn with large folding glass doors; over which
+the balcony of the drawing-room formed a pleasant and very convenient
+shade in the summer season, at which time it rejoiced in a profusion of
+sweet-scented clematis, whose delicate tendrils hung luxuriantly over
+the balustrade, and in some places even swept the gravel walk.
+
+The balcony itself was filled with choice flowers, and was attended to
+with great care, by the lady of the villa herself. The wall surrounding
+the garden was almost hidden by the profusion of laurels, and half a
+dozen rather tall trees at the bottom of the garden formed a picturesque
+background to the whole. The smooth-shaven lawn must not be unmentioned;
+it made a delightful promenade; it had been the scene of many a joyous
+party, and it was to be the arena on which the young invited guests of
+to-day were to bear witness to the artistic taste, as well as to do
+justice to the profusion of good things provided by their kind
+entertainers.
+
+'I hope Maurice Firman won't play any of his foolish pranks to-day,'
+said Harry. 'He is always getting into trouble at school, yet the boys
+like him because he is so good-natured, and so ready to help them with
+their lessons; he seems as if he could not keep out of mischief. Edward
+is quite a different fellow, and his sisters, Ella and Lucy, are very
+nice girls; but they always seem afraid of Maurice, he is so fond of
+practical jokes.'
+
+'I hope he won't play any while he is here,' said Dora. 'I was going to
+ask mamma to let us have her gold and purple cups and saucers, but if
+Maurice Firman is so mischievous, they might be broken.'
+
+'Oh, as to that,' said Harry, 'I don't suppose he would attack the tea
+equipage, though he is a very good hand at clearing bread-and-butter
+plates,' he added, laughing; 'and I expect if that Miss Mabel Ellis
+comes, that we shall have a scene, for he is sure to turn her into
+ridicule.'
+
+'Oh, I hope he wouldn't be so rude,' said Annie Maitland; 'surely he
+knows better how to behave himself when he is in company, and where
+there are young ladies?'
+
+'I am not at all sure of him, Cousin Annie,' said Harry; 'but I do hope
+that silly conceited girl will not be here, to put Maurice to the
+test.'
+
+'I really don't think that she will come,' said Dora; 'her papa appeared
+to be so angry about her going with us yesterday, that she told me that
+he perhaps would not give his consent to her being of our party to-day.'
+
+'Well done, Mr. Ellis!' said Harry. 'Keep the young lady at home; we can
+do much better without than with her.'
+
+'But Julia, I am sure, will not like to come without her sister,' said
+Annie. 'I don't think she would enjoy herself, if Mabel were not here.'
+
+'Ah, you judge other people's feelings by your own, my kind cousin,'
+said the patronising Harry; 'you mustn't always do that, though I
+believe there is some truth in what you say about Julia Ellis.'
+
+A silvery laugh ringing from the balcony just then made the young party
+look up, when they saw Mrs. Maitland, who was busy watering and
+rearranging her flowers, and who had been amused at her nephew's
+sententious speech.
+
+'Doesn't Harry lay down the law well, mamma?' inquired Dora. 'I think,'
+she added, 'he will make a good barrister; he is beginning to practise
+so early.'
+
+'I hope he will _practise_, as well as preach,' replied his aunt,
+laughing; 'example, you know, my dear boy, is better than precept,' she
+added, addressing herself to Harry.
+
+'But we boys and girls require both, aunt; and I and my cousins ought to
+be very good, for I am sure we have both,' said the polite young
+gentleman, with a bow.
+
+'At present you are all that I could wish you, my dears,' replied Mrs.
+Maitland; 'and I can only say now, "Go on and prosper."'
+
+'Mamma, mamma dear, don't go just this minute,' cried Dora, as Mrs.
+Maitland was retreating through the drawing-room window; 'Harry has a
+favour to ask of you.'
+
+'Well, what is it, Mr. Special Pleader?' inquired the lady, resuming her
+place on the balcony.
+
+'Now, aunt,' said Harry, laughing, 'I don't think it is quite fair of my
+cousins to _engage_ me in such a trifling matter, especially as I am not
+likely to get anything for my _brief_, except perhaps a rebuke from
+you.'
+
+'Well, go on, my good sir,' said his aunt; 'I have some curiosity to
+learn what you have to do in the Court of Request to-day.'
+
+'It is simply this,' replied Harry; 'my instructions are to plead for
+the loan of the purple and gold tea equipage, in order to make a
+magnificent display before the astonished eyes of a parcel of school
+girls and boys. That's my case, madam,' added the juvenile pleader, with
+a bow. 'I beg to say,' he added, after a moment's pause, 'that _I_ am
+no advocate in this cause; I leave it entirely in the judge's hands.'
+
+'Yes, we leave it in your hands, mamma,' said both the girls; 'we think
+we have confided our case to a very one-sided lawyer, and that one side
+is certainly against his clients.'
+
+'I am sorry to say "no" to any petition you make, my dears,' said the
+kind lady; 'but prudence forbids my granting your request to-day, as
+misfortunes will happen, and are very likely to happen, where such a
+young gentleman as you describe Master Maurice Firman to be is of the
+party. Besides, I really think myself,' added prudent mamma, 'that the
+white and green tea service, though not so gorgeous as purple and gold,
+will be much more suitable for your present entertainment.'
+
+'All right, aunt,' 'All right, dear mamma,' was the response to this
+decision.
+
+Fortunately, in Mrs. Maitland's family, what mamma said was always right
+with her daughters, and this saved a world of trouble.
+
+The happy trio went on with their preparations, and when the table was
+brought out on to the lawn, and had received not only the pure white and
+green tea-service, but the very elegant floral decorations invented by
+the cousins, it really had a most imposing appearance, and was
+pronounced by the highest authority to be perfect.
+
+'Well, now we have prepared the feast, or at least adorned it,' said
+Harry, 'I think we had better look after our own adornment, for we don't
+appear to be in a very fit state to receive visitors--at least I can
+answer for myself that I am not;' and he held up his hands in proof of
+this affirmation, though it was evident that Dora and Annie needed no
+such proof, as they were pretty much in the same condition.
+
+The young people had performed their ablutions, and were together again
+on the grass plot admiring their own handiwork, or rearranging here and
+there leaf or fern-wreath, when a ringing at the bell sounded an
+arrival, and Harry and his cousins met and saluted their young friends,
+the Firmans, in the hall: two very nice-looking girls and their two
+brothers, Maurice and Edward, of whom my readers have heard before.
+
+'You will take the young gentlemen into the garden with you, dear
+Harry,' said Mrs. Maitland, who had come out of the dining-room to
+salute the guests, 'and Dora and Annie will go with the young ladies to
+the bedroom.'
+
+'Mamma thinks, Mrs. Maitland,' said the eldest Miss Firman, whose name
+was Lucy, 'that we are too large a party to come of one family; she is
+afraid of giving you trouble.'
+
+'Not in the least, my dear Lucy,' replied the kind lady. 'I wonder,'
+she added, 'what your mamma would say if she knew that we turned you
+out of doors as soon as you came.'
+
+Lucy looked up inquiringly, and Dora explained laughingly:
+
+'Mamma means, Lucy, that we are all going to drink tea out of doors.'
+
+'Oh, that _will_ be delightful!' exclaimed both Lucy and Ella, as they
+followed their young friends upstairs to remove their hats and jackets;
+Harry having done as his aunt had suggested, taken Maurice and Edward
+down the steps into the garden in the meantime. The young gentleman was
+well aware that he had rather a rough customer to deal with in Master
+Maurice, as he had more than once been the object of his school-fellow's
+practical jokes; so he thought proper to give him a caution.
+
+'Now, I say, Maurice,' began Harry Maitland, 'don't let's have any of
+your school-boy tricks here, that's a good fellow; you know we have
+young ladies to deal with this afternoon, and we must try to please
+them.'
+
+'Oh, I'm not going to do anything foolish; don't be afraid, old fellow,'
+said his companion. 'Why, Harry, you look as solemn as though you
+expected me to fly away with the tea-table and all the good things upon
+it,' he remarked, as he glanced with a well-satisfied and complacent
+look at the said tea-table; and added, 'I assure you that I don't mean
+to do anything so shocking, but shall content myself with a moderate
+share of the excellent provisions with which it is stocked.'
+
+This speech was delivered with mock gravity, and our friend Harry was
+fain to be satisfied with the promise, as the young ladies just then
+made their appearance, and there was a very general exclamation of
+pleasure and admiration at the really pretty and tasteful surroundings.
+
+Another ring at the bell announced more visitors, and the good vicar's
+children, Robert and Edith Newlove, made their appearance on the top of
+the steps, and soon joined the rest in their admiration of what had been
+effected by the artistic efforts of their young friends. Harry cordially
+greeted his school companion and especial favourite, Robert Newlove,
+while Dora and Annie welcomed with a kiss his gentle sister Edith; and
+soon the happy party were seated round the table, where Dora was to
+preside, though she had much wished that her mamma should take that
+important office upon herself.
+
+'I thought you told me that Mabel and Julia Ellis were to be here,
+Dora,' said Edith Newlove, who was seated near her friend. 'Are they not
+coming?' she inquired.
+
+'I really don't know how it will be,' replied Dora, quietly, for she did
+not wish to attract notice. 'Julia I hope will be here soon, but I fear
+Mabel will not be permitted to come; her papa is very much displeased
+with her.'
+
+Another ring at the bell made the young party suspend operations for a
+few minutes, and Julia Ellis received a cordial welcome, and soon found
+a seat near Harry Maitland, who had risen to receive her.
+
+Maurice Firman, not wishing to be less courteous than his friend Harry,
+had also risen from his seat, but very unfortunately--or shall I say
+clumsily?--in doing so, the contents of his cup went over on to his
+trousers, and he was too much engaged in keeping off the hot beverage
+from touching his skin, to deal in matters of courtesy.
+
+'What a clumsy fellow you are, Maurice,' said his brother Edward;
+'always getting into hot water.'
+
+'Oh, don't bother!' exclaimed Maurice, petulantly, and still shaking his
+trousers. 'I'd rather get into hot water than have the hot water poured
+upon me;' and having said, as he thought, a witty thing, and made the
+whole party laugh (which I must confess they had all been very much
+inclined to do before at his expense), he seated himself again at the
+table, cooling down as the hot beverage had done, and trying to make
+himself agreeable to his young friends by his very lively remarks, of
+which he had a good store.
+
+'Why is your sister Mabel not with you, Julia?' inquired Lucy Firman.
+'I hope she is not unwell?' she added, seeing the colour rise on the
+cheeks of the poor girl.
+
+'Mrs. Ellis is not very well,' replied Dora Maitland, answering for her
+friend; while Harry, in order to check further inquiries, asked Maurice
+Firman if he had ever been to the Zoological Gardens.
+
+'I should just think I had,' replied Maurice, with a very significant
+shake of the head; 'but you won't catch me there again in a hurry. Why,
+I tumbled over into the bear's den, or cage, or whatever you call it;
+and if Master Bruin had been at the bottom of the pole, instead of the
+top, I can't tell you where my poll would have been now. Fortunately,
+the keeper was there, and I was got out somehow or other, I can't tell
+you how, for I was insensible when they picked me up; and that was no
+wonder, for I think I could not have been very _sensible_ when I tumbled
+over. When I came round I found myself lying on my own bed, and mamma,
+and the doctor, and the girls all crying: no, the doctor wasn't
+crying--doctors never do cry, I suppose, it is beneath their dignity;
+but the others made fuss enough, and it was nearly a month before I was
+able to go out again. And depend upon it, when I did go out, I didn't
+walk to the Zoological Gardens, for I can't bear the name of the
+place.' Maurice doubtless thought that he had made a good hit, but alas!
+it only fell on one pair of ears.
+
+Fortunately the tea passed over without any other mishap than the
+upsetting of the cup. Maurice Firman was certainly the chief spokesman
+of the party; and though I am compelled to admit that he displayed great
+attachment for plates of cake and bread and butter, I am also bound in
+justice to say that he was not at all wanting in courtesy to the young
+ladies, by whom he was surrounded. Everything, indeed, was pleasant, and
+as it should be, and the now antiquated game of croquet was proposed, as
+soon as the table with its adjuncts could be removed.
+
+'Now I'll toss this ball, and catch it ten times running, with one hand,
+while you are waiting for your game,' cried the impatient Maurice; and
+though there was a general exclamation of 'No, no, not until the table
+is cleared!' away went the ball into the air, and returned safely into
+the hand that sent it.
+
+The next descent, however, was a disastrous one, for the ball fell
+exactly in the middle of the table, smashing more than one of the
+bread-and-butter plates, to the great distress and consternation of the
+whole party.
+
+'Oh, how fortunate it is that we had not the best china tea-things,'
+said Dora; 'they are very expensive ones. It does not matter much about
+these; we can easily get them matched.'
+
+'Well, I am _very very_ sorry,' said the author of the mischief; 'but
+I'll save up all my pocket-money, and buy some more plates,' he added.
+
+'No, no, you won't,' said a kind voice from the balcony; and on Maurice
+looking up, he saw Mrs. Maitland, who had come out of the drawing-room
+to ascertain the cause of the commotion. 'Don't let this trifling
+accident spoil your sport, dear Maurice,' said the lady, smiling on the
+impetuous yet generous-hearted boy; 'only take care that you do not hurt
+your young friends, the ladies, by too rough play.' Having given this
+necessary caution, Mrs. Maitland left them to their sports, and as the
+unfortunate breakage had been the means of checking somewhat of the
+exuberant spirits of the youthful offender, everything went on very
+satisfactorily, and game succeeded game, with great amiability, until an
+unfortunate cat, belonging to Aunt Mary, which had accustomed itself to
+take an evening's promenade along the garden wall, made her usual
+appearance, and attracted the attention of the mischief-loving Maurice.
+
+'Oh, I must have a fling at that cat,' cried that young gentleman,
+taking up a rather thick piece of stick from the bushes. 'Now see if I
+don't hit her right down from the wall,' he added; and he was just
+going to suit the action to the word, when he felt his arms pinioned
+from behind, and tried in vain to make his escape.
+
+The cat, however, was more fortunate, for seeing that she had attracted
+attention, and very likely having had some acquaintance with school-boy
+tricks, she very prudently contented herself with a short walk this
+evening, and quietly slipped down into her own domain before the
+pinioned arms were set at liberty.
+
+'There, now you may go, old fellow,' said Harry Maitland, releasing the
+arms, which he had held so tightly that Maurice was fain to rub them
+violently to restore the circulation, while the whole party laughed
+heartily at his expense.
+
+'I wish Harry was at home with you sometimes,' said Edward Firman, who
+did not seem at all to relish his boisterous ways.
+
+'I wish he was,' replied Maurice, who looked rather red and angry at
+having been so ignominiously made captive. 'But you don't think,' he
+added, 'that I would let him master me so easily as he has done now,
+Ned; I was taken unawares, and that's not fair.'
+
+'But that was the only way to save the poor cat,' said Dora Maitland:
+'she might have been killed if you had struck her with that large piece
+of wood; and I think Cousin Harry did quite right in holding your
+arms.'
+
+'Such a fuss about a cat!' cried Maurice, still smarting under the
+supposed affront. 'You should see how I served one the other day, when
+she came prowling about the house to steal anything she could lay hold
+of.'
+
+'Don't let him tell--don't let him tell it, 'cried both Lucy and Ethel
+Firman; 'it is a great shame of you, Maurice, to boast of your own bad
+deeds,' said both his sisters; and as the servants were just then again
+setting out the table with refreshments, the young party were saved the
+infliction of hearing an exploit boasted of, which would certainly have
+lowered Maurice Firman considerably in the eyes of all present.
+
+'I did not intend to hurt you, Maurice,' said Harry Maitland, as he
+clapped his friend on the back, and held out his hand in token of amity.
+
+'Oh, I know that,' replied the boy; 'I shouldn't play tricks with cats
+where there are girls.'
+
+'Nor at all, I think,' responded his friend; 'it is a cowardly thing to
+hurt a dumb creature that cannot speak or fight for itself.'
+
+'Can't they, though!' cried Maurice; 'I know, if they don't speak, they
+can make a horrible outcry. And as to fighting, just look here, my boy,
+what do you think of that for a scratch, which a wretch of a cat gave me
+because I took up her kitten and made it squall? Why, she flew at me
+like mad, and before I could put the kitten down, she gave me this
+wound;' and Maurice uncovered his wrist, and showed a very red and
+angry-looking scratch.
+
+'It's your own fault; you should let the cats alone,' said his sisters.
+'Mamma is always scolding you for teasing them.'
+
+'Well, I think we have had enough of cats,' said Robert Newlove; 'I
+don't like them myself, but I should be very sorry to hurt them;' and in
+this charitable declaration he was seconded by the whole party, Maurice
+excepted.
+
+We must now bid good-night to our young friends, as they will soon do to
+each other. Aunt Mary and Clara are expected home to-morrow, and that
+careful domestic of hers, Bridget Morley, who has lived so many years at
+Oak Villa, has got everything in apple-pie order for her much-esteemed
+mistress, and a lovely brood of chickens, which have been hatched since
+they went away, to present to the young lady who has the charge of all
+the poultry.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE BROKEN BOX.
+
+
+Before we congratulate ourselves on Aunt Mary's return home, let us just
+take a look at the disappointed Mabel, after her sister Julia had gone
+to the tea-party.
+
+It was in vain that her too indulgent mother tried to soften her
+affliction, very injudiciously, we think, as every remark of hers only
+elicited a fresh burst of feeling; and Mrs. Ellis felt it quite a relief
+when the self-tormenting girl rose up hastily and retreated to her
+bedroom, there to ponder over, not her own delinquencies, we fear, but
+the wrongs inflicted on her by others.
+
+A little voice which said, 'May I come in, Mabel?' roused her for a
+moment, and she answered very crossly: 'What is it you want, Fred? I
+wish you would not come teasing me. Go away; I don't want any of you.
+
+'I only want to show you the nice box of puzzles papa has brought home
+for me,' replied Freddy. 'I want you, Mabel dear, to help me to put it
+together. I won't tease you.'
+
+'I don't want to see your box, and I shan't open the door,' said the
+ungracious girl. 'Take your box away, and get some one else to help you
+to put your puzzle together,' she added; and poor Fred, thus rudely
+repressed, turned to wend his way downstairs again. Unfortunately, his
+foot caught the fringe of the door-mat, which caused him to fall heavily
+and strike his head against the railing of the banisters, while the
+pretty box, escaping from his hand, went right down the stairs into the
+hall, where it burst open, and scattered the inclosed pieces right and
+left.
+
+Mabel was now quite roused, and fearing that her papa, attracted by the
+noise, might come up to see what was the matter, rather than being moved
+by any sisterly feeling, she reluctantly opened the door, and lifted up
+the prostrate Freddy, who, although he had received a rather severe blow
+on the forehead from coming in contact with the railings, was too much
+of a man to cry, and seemed more anxious about the fate of his new
+plaything, than desirous of obtaining either aid or sympathy; nor was he
+very likely to obtain either from Mabel, though she took him into her
+room to scold him for what he had done.
+
+'Now just see what you have done,' said the selfish girl, 'by bringing
+up that nasty box, and then letting it fall down the stairs. I hear
+papa's voice in the hall; he will most likely come up here, and I shall
+get scolded for your stupidity.'
+
+'I will go down to him,' said Freddy, 'and then I can tell him all about
+the box falling; papa needn't come up here.'
+
+'How came you to let your box fall, Fred?' inquired Mr. Ellis, helping
+the boy to pick up the scattered pieces.
+
+'I caught my foot in the fringe of the bedroom mat, papa,' replied
+Freddy; 'I am so sorry the box is broken.'
+
+'Yes, so am I,' said his father; 'but why did you take it upstairs? that
+is what I should like to know.'
+
+As there was no answer returned to this question, Mr. Ellis stated the
+truth himself.
+
+'I suppose,' he continued, 'you went to show it to your sister
+Mabel--was that it?'
+
+'Yes, papa,' said the boy, still holding down his head; and kind papa,
+seeing there was something wrong, would not then press further questions
+on his little boy, though he remarked to his wife, when they were again
+seated, that he should indeed be very glad when Mabel was under the care
+of someone who knew how to manage her, for he was quite disgusted with
+her exhibitions of temper.
+
+'My sister will I dare say be here to-morrow,' said Mrs. Ellis; 'and I
+will tell her what you wish respecting Mabel, though I know she does not
+like the poor girl: and Mabel will find Oak Villa very different to
+home, I am afraid.'
+
+'That is not what I am afraid of,' replied Mr. Ellis; 'my fear is, that
+Miss Livesay will find the girl so intolerable, that we shall soon have
+her back on our hands again.'
+
+'Oh, Arthur! you are so very severe in your remarks,' said the too
+indulgent mother. 'My sister is very patient, and very kind to children,
+though she is so firm.'
+
+'Which I am sorry to say you are not, my dear; and it is this want of
+firmness which occasions all the mischief,' said the gentleman; adding,
+rather bitterly, 'You order a thing to be done, but you take no care to
+see your orders enforced, and thus we are plagued with unruly children
+and wilful servants.'
+
+'Well, dear, you are always finding fault with me, whatever I do,' said
+the poor self-afflicted lady, though she must have felt that what her
+good husband had said was quite true; and well would it have been for
+him, for herself, and indeed for the whole household, if, instead of
+considering herself a martyr, she had set to work to amend the errors
+which he had pointed out; but, alas! we don't see ourselves as others
+see us.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+AUNT MARY'S RETURN.
+
+
+On the evening of the day after the juvenile party, a cab drove up to
+the garden gate of Oak Villa, and Dora and Annie Maitland, who had been
+on the look-out for some time at the window of an upper room, had the
+satisfaction of seeing their kind preceptress, and her niece Clara
+Beaumont, alight from it, receiving and giving at the same time the
+welcome nod and smile of recognition. But here is the trusty Bridget,
+with her merry face beaming with gladness, and her voice almost
+tremulous with joy, for she has had rather a dull time of it while her
+mistress and Clara have been away; though Jane Somers, a young girl
+living not far off from Oak Villa, came regularly to sleep at the house.
+
+'Well, Bridget, and how have you been all this time? not idle, I can see
+at the first glance,' said Aunt Mary, looking round at the
+brightly-polished furniture and fire-irons.
+
+'Oh no, ma'am, I don't think anybody can be idle at your house,' replied
+Bridget; 'and I have had plenty to do, for I have cleaned the house from
+top to bottom, and have taken care of the cat and the fowls. And oh,
+Miss Clara, the old hen has brought out such a beautiful set of chickens
+as you never seed afore; but I dare say you be too tired to come and
+look at them now,' added Bridget.
+
+'Yes, we are too tired now,' said Miss Livesay, answering for her niece;
+'we want to take off our wraps, and have some tea. Besides, you forget,
+my good woman,' added her mistress, 'that the chickens are now all
+hidden under their mother's wing, and she wouldn't suffer us to disturb
+them.'
+
+'Dear me, I quite forgot that,' said Bridget, as she busied herself in
+assisting in the removal of cloaks and shawls, and carrying off trunks
+and band-boxes; one of the latter of which her kind mistress told her
+was for her, and contained a new cap and bonnet.
+
+'Oh, ma'am, you are so kind,' said the pleased domestic; 'you never
+forget anyone.' And she hurried away with her load, with a glad tear
+glistening in her eye.
+
+It was quite true what Bridget had said about Aunt Mary--she was indeed
+kind-hearted and open-handed: but with all this she was not foolishly
+indulgent. Her judgment was correct, and having made up her mind as to
+what was the right course to pursue, she took pains to see her plans
+carried out. Often and often had she remonstrated with her sister, Mrs.
+Ellis, on her laxity of discipline, both with her children and servants;
+and sometimes she had ventured, though that perhaps was not very wise,
+to set their mutual friend Mrs. Maitland before her as a pattern for
+mothers and mistresses. This, however, invariably produced some angry
+retort, or at least a flood of tears, and ended with a secret
+determination on the part of the elder sister to say no more on the
+subject, but permit things to take their course; though she had made up
+her mind on coming home to do as Mr. Ellis had once suggested to her,
+that was, to receive Mabel as one of her pupils.
+
+This was entirely with the idea of relieving her sister, and effecting a
+reformation, if possible, in the character of her niece; though she
+almost dreaded the introduction of such an element of discord into their
+peaceful and happy household. Mabel, we have seen, had a great dislike
+to her gentle cousin Clara, perhaps because she had heard her praises
+often sounded; and she disliked her Aunt Mary quite as much, though it
+would have been difficult for her to have given a 'reason why,' if it
+had been asked for.
+
+'I shall hate them both, I know I shall,' said Mabel to her sister
+Julia, on the morning of the day on which Miss Livesay was expected to
+come to Camden Terrace. 'There will be lessons and work, lessons and
+work, all the day long. I shall be miserable, I know I shall; and I'll
+tell mamma so, and beg of her not to let me go.'
+
+'No, don't do that, Mabel; you will only make poor mamma unhappy, and
+papa angry,' said the wise younger sister; and she added, 'I wish I
+could go to Oak Villa. I like Cousin Clara very much, and Dora and Annie
+Maitland too; I am sure you will find them very nice companions, all of
+them.'
+
+'Oh yes, it's all very fine what you are saying,' said Mabel; 'but I
+know very well that you only want to get rid of me, and so does papa,
+for I heard him say so; and I think it's unkind and cruel of you both,'
+exclaimed the angry girl.
+
+'Well, at any rate, you are not going very far away from us,' said
+Julia; 'it is only a nice walk from Oak Villa to our house, so I and
+Freddy can come and see you often, and you can come to see us.'
+
+Just then a cab was heard to stop at the door, and the dreaded lady and
+her niece Clara alighted, each with parcels in their hands; presents, no
+doubt, to the small fry who had climbed up to the window to see who was
+coming.
+
+'Now don't look so cross, Mabel; don't let Aunt Mary see that you don't
+like to go to Oak Villa,' entreated Julia.
+
+'But I shall let her see!' replied the perverse girl; 'and I _shall_
+tell her so, too--see if I don't,' she added, nodding her head; though,
+when she came into the presence of that good lady, she had not a word to
+say for herself, such a charm is there in the manner of some people to
+overawe presumption.
+
+Mabel and Julia made their appearance in the dining-room, just after the
+first kindly greetings and affectionate salutations of the sisters had
+been exchanged, and the same process had to be gone over with cousins
+and aunt, the latter showing no difference whatever in the warm embrace
+of Mabel and Julia, though we well know the great difference there was
+in her estimate of the character of the two girls.
+
+'Well, my dear Mabel,' said Miss Livesay, after a little conference had
+been held, 'so it appears your papa and mamma wish that we should become
+better acquainted with each other. Shall you like to pay me a visit at
+Oak Villa?'
+
+Here was a grand opportunity for Mabel to display her boasted courage,
+and to speak her mind; instead of which, she only looked very sad, hung
+down her head, and, rudely enough, made no reply; while her aunt said,
+with a smile:
+
+'That is well; silence gives consent. So you had better go, my dear, and
+get ready, for I do not wish to keep the cabman waiting; and I have just
+a few words to say to your mamma. Clara and Julia will therefore go
+upstairs with you.'
+
+All this was said kindly, but very decidedly: it was evident that there
+was no appeal to be made, no authority to be questioned; and with hardly
+suppressed passion and tears, the vanquished girl quitted the room with
+her sister and cousin.
+
+'And now, my dear Ada,' said Miss Livesay to her sister, 'see what are
+the fruits of your over-indulgence, or want of firmness! They are not
+very lovely, are they? Will you not take your good husband's advice, and
+strive against this constitutional weakness, which is so detrimental to
+your happiness, to your husband's comfort, and to your children's
+welfare?'
+
+'I can't be always scolding the children, Mary,' replied Mrs. Ellis,
+peevishly. 'It isn't my fault, surely, that Mabel is so ill-tempered and
+disobedient, and yet you and Arthur just talk to me as if it were.'
+
+'And in a great measure, I think, it is your fault, my sister,' said the
+kind monitor. 'Children should be watched from infancy; tenderly cared
+for in mind as well as body. Good seed must be sown then, and the little
+weeds which we are apt to disregard, or what is worse, cherish, in our
+folly, must be rooted out while the soil is moist, and the root is not
+deep in the ground. Never laugh at childish exhibitions of temper, nor
+for the sake of _peace_ give way to the doctrine of _expediency_,
+injurious alike to nations and to families.'
+
+Here poor Mrs. Ellis interposed; she could never sit out a long sermon,
+especially one that she really could not understand. So she interrupted
+Aunt Mary's profitable discourse by promising to try, when Mabel had
+gone away, to be more careful for the future, though she candidly
+admitted that she did not know how to begin to make any change, as Mabel
+was the only one of the children who gave her any trouble. And yet the
+weeds were growing up thick and strong in Master Freddy, who just then
+put his head in at the door, the little ones being behind him, and all
+running to salute their aunt, and receiving from her a loving embrace,
+as well as the very pretty playthings which were spread out on the table
+for their acceptance and admiration. Nor had Mabel and Julia been
+forgotten by their aunt; both a workbox and a writing-case were laid
+aside for the latter: those intended for her sister Miss Livesay had not
+brought, thinking it unnecessary, as Mabel was to return with her to Oak
+Villa.
+
+'Well, my dear Mabel,' said Aunt Mary, as the two girls entered the
+room; 'so you are equipped and ready for a start, I see. I do hope you
+will like your new mode of life, and your young companion's society.
+Clara, I know, will be delighted to have a companion in her visits to
+our poor people: and you, I trust, will soon learn to take an interest
+in them.'
+
+There was no response to this kind speech from the unamiable girl; and
+with the somewhat painful feeling on the part of Miss Livesay that she
+was going to introduce into her hitherto peaceful household the apple of
+discord, she rose to take leave, with the promise, however, of renewing
+her visit in the next week if all things went on well.
+
+Mabel was quick enough to notice this speech: she would have known that
+it had reference to herself, even if it had not been accompanied by a
+smile and a nod from her aunt; and the naughty pride in her heart made
+her resent it, though she felt obliged to submit.
+
+There were loving adieus from all but Master Freddy, who said to his
+sister, as she shook hands with him:
+
+'Good-bye, Mabel; I'm glad you're going, you are always so cross with
+us.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+NIGHT AND MORNING.
+
+
+And now an entirely new mode of life was presented to Mabel; and Miss
+Livesay found, as, indeed, she had expected to find, a fruitful source
+of trouble in her newly adopted pupil. Of course, on the first day of
+Mabel's arrival at Oak Villa there were no lessons talked about, and the
+young ladies next door were not expected to resume their school duties,
+until the Monday following Miss Livesay's return home; so there was a
+little time afforded for breaking _out_, and breaking _in_. We shall see
+how it was employed.
+
+This afternoon had been a very pleasant one; the chickens had been
+looked at and greatly admired; flowers, the great favourites both of
+aunt and niece, Mabel did not care for, though she liked, as we have
+seen, to deck herself in gay colours. In the house they had plenty of
+amusement, with books and pretty specimens of work of various kinds from
+the ready fingers and artistic taste of Aunt Mary and Clara; indeed,
+what had been produced by their skill, industry, and steady
+perseverance, was worthy of admiration. To Mabel's astonishment, nine
+o'clock struck, and she had not yet finished her pleasant occupation of
+examining, when her aunt said:
+
+'Now, my dears, it is your bed-time.'
+
+Clara instantly began to put away books and work, but Mabel exclaimed:
+
+'Oh, aunt! must we go to bed so soon? I never go till ten, at home!'
+
+'Perhaps you never rise at six in the morning?' replied Miss Livesay;
+'we do. And I dare say you have heard the old proverb--
+
+  '"Early to bed, and early to rise,
+  Is the way to be healthy, wealthy, and wise."'
+
+'I go to bed when I like, and I get up when I like, at home,' said
+Mabel, without noticing the unwelcome quotation.
+
+'_We_ have no _likes_ and _dislikes_ here, my dear Mabel,' said her
+aunt. 'We do what we know to be our duty, and you will have to do the
+same. Good-night!'
+
+An affectionate kiss accompanied the _good-night_; Mabel saw that it was
+a _decided_ one; there was no room for further parley, and the short
+time spent by the proud and petulant girl at Oak Villa gave signs of an
+authority, to which she must of necessity submit, as from it there could
+be no appeal.
+
+'Mabel dear, it is time to get up; don't you hear the bell ringing?'
+said Clara, as she jumped out of bed and began to dress. The
+sleepy-headed girl turned lazily round, but did not seem to be at all
+disposed to attend to the summons.
+
+'You _must_ get up; indeed you must!' urged Clara, gently shaking her
+cousin by the shoulder. 'I shall not have done all I have to do before
+prayers, if we don't make haste.'
+
+'Why, what have we to do before breakfast? And what time do you have
+breakfast?' drowsily inquired Mabel, rising, however, at this second
+appeal of her cousin's.
+
+'We have prayers at eight, then breakfast; but I have my chickens to
+feed, and my lessons to prepare before that time,' said Clara.
+
+'Lessons before breakfast! Oh, I shall hate that!' exclaimed Mabel. 'I
+hope they are not hard ones, for I shall never learn them if they are.'
+
+'Well, I don't know what you call hard,' replied her cousin. 'I find
+mine rather difficult sometimes, but Aunt Mary is so kind in explaining
+everything, that it is quite a pleasure to learn with her.'
+
+'I'm sure I shouldn't think her kind,' said the ungrateful Mabel. 'I
+can't bear people that are so prim and stiff as Aunt Mary is, always
+seeming determined to make you do just what they like, whether you wish
+it or not.'
+
+'Oh, Mabel!' said her cousin, 'I wonder how you can speak so
+disrespectfully of dear Aunt Mary; and what you are saying is quite
+untrue.'
+
+'And I suppose,' retorted the ill-conditioned girl, 'you will go and
+tell her what I have said, and we shall have a row.'
+
+Clara was so astonished at hearing this speech from her cousin, that she
+suspended the operation of dressing for a moment.
+
+Then she said quickly:
+
+'Mabel, we don't tell tales here; and I never before heard anyone speak
+unkindly of our aunt, nor did I ever hear her speak unkindly to anyone.
+Don't let us talk any more,' she added; 'I am going to say my prayers.
+Come, kneel down with me, and let us thank our Father in heaven for
+taking care of us through the night, and ask Him to bless us before we
+begin our day's work.'
+
+Mabel knelt down beside the bed with her cousin. She had always been
+accustomed to repeat a set form of words; whether they were the
+utterances of the 'soul's sincere desire,' we cannot say: but we do know
+that if we _pray_ in sincerity against sin, we shall _strive_ against
+it, and Mabel was not doing this. Clara's first occupation on going down
+stairs was to look after her feathered family; and in this she had a
+ready seconder in Mabel, whose delight in seeing the pretty chickens was
+unbounded.
+
+'Oh, do let me take one out, Clara! I won't hurt it; dear, sweet little
+thing!' she exclaimed, as she was just putting out her hand to take one
+of them up, but was held back by her cousin, and so prevented from
+receiving the meditated peck which the old hen was evidently preparing
+for her.
+
+'Just in time,' said Clara; 'old Netty would have made you repent of
+your boldness, had you taken hold of one of her pets.'
+
+'Why, I shouldn't have hurt it by just holding it in my hand,' replied
+Mabel.
+
+'Netty doesn't know that; and I'm sure she would have hurt you, so it is
+very well I held you back,' said Clara. 'Now we had better go in; I hear
+Aunt Mary's voice. I must go and say good-morning to her, as usual.'
+
+'Good-morning, my dears,' said Miss Livesay, in her usual genial, happy
+tone of voice, for she was always bright and cheerful, though her niece
+Mabel chose to take such a distorted view of her. 'I hope you have slept
+well, and are refreshed for another day's work, my children; you both
+look the picture of health, and health is one of our greatest blessings,
+is it not?'
+
+'Yes, dear aunt, indeed it is,' replied Clara. 'I think we both slept
+well; and I was so glad to see, when I woke, that the morning was fine,
+for I thought perhaps you would wish us to go and see how poor Mr.
+Simmons is, when we have done our lessons.'
+
+'That is just what I wish you to do,' said Aunt Mary. 'The lessons I
+intend to postpone, except that you may show your cousin what you and
+your school-fellows are learning. I shall be delighted to find that you
+can all study together; it will save much time and trouble, and be much
+more agreeable. Now ring for Bridget; after prayers and breakfast, we
+must cut out our work, dear Clara. You know we have a great deal to do,'
+said the lady.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+THE FIRST DAY'S WORK.
+
+
+IN the pleasant breakfast-room, which was also a schoolroom, the two
+girls were left by Aunt Mary, while she gave some orders on household
+matters. Everything was arranged here with order and neatness, but there
+was nothing superfluous; there was a place for everything, and
+everything seemed to be in its place, if we except a large quantity of
+unbleached calico, which had been unrolled, and had spread itself upon
+the floor.
+
+'What is all that coarse stuff for?' inquired Mabel of her cousin. 'You
+surely don't call that your work, do you, Clara? I brought some
+embroidery with me, for I hate plain work. I hope aunt will not set me
+to do any.'
+
+'I am quite sure she will, though,' replied Clara; 'and this very day,
+too; for she is going to cut out two night-shirts for the poor man we
+are going to see, and we shall have to make them, as well as pinafores
+for the children, and flannel petticoats for two old women who are in
+Aunt Mary's district. Oh, such nice old dames they are, Mabel! I am sure
+you will like them, dear; and they are so thankful for any little
+kindness we do for them.'
+
+'Such stupid, humdrum work!' exclaimed Mabel. 'I'm sure I shall be
+miserable here. Hard lessons, coarse work, and looking after old and
+sick people! I wonder you are not moped to death, Clara; it's even worse
+than I thought it would be.'
+
+'Well, wait a little while,' said patient Clara; 'you have had no
+experience yet. I know very well you will alter your mind before six
+months are over.'
+
+'Six months!' exclaimed Mabel; 'why, I should be dead in that time, if
+mamma suffers me to remain here. But I shall tell her all about it, and
+beg her to let me go home.'
+
+The entrance of Aunt Mary broke off the dialogue of the cousins, and
+soon the obnoxious calico was spread out, and fashioned into useful
+articles of wearing apparel.
+
+'Here is your new workbox, my dear Mabel,' said her aunt; 'you will find
+it stocked with all necessary things--thimble, and scissors, and
+needles, and cotton--and all that I require of you is to keep it tidy.'
+
+It was impossible for Mabel not to dismiss _some_, at least, of her
+foolish prejudice against this kind friend, and the thanks she returned
+for the really handsome present were hearty and genuine; and on fitting
+on her thimble, and examining the bright scissors and the very pretty
+needle, even her feelings respecting the coarse work on which they were
+expected to be employed appeared to undergo a wonderful change.
+
+'I can't do plain work very quickly, aunt,' said Mabel, when that lady
+had given her a pair of sleeves to make; 'I never did much at home.'
+
+'All right, my child; if you do your best, I promise you I shall be
+satisfied. I know you will improve in time,' said Aunt Mary, kindly.
+
+There was no reading this morning, because Clara and Aunt Mary, who
+were both rapid seamstresses, had agreed, if possible, to finish the
+night-shirt that had been cut out, and take it with them in the evening,
+when they went to call at the cottage of poor Simmons, whom they had not
+seen since their return home, but of whom they had learned from Bridget
+a pretty satisfactory account. The good woman had taken them under her
+especial care while her mistress was away.
+
+There was no lack of pleasant conversation when Aunt Mary was in the
+room, and the work progressed well during the morning hours; but,
+unfortunately, about three o'clock in the afternoon some friends came to
+call, and as it was evident to Miss Livesay that this would prevent
+their visit to the cottage that evening, she bade the young people put
+away their work, and try to find some amusement in the garden. Clara
+felt sorry and disappointed at this postponement, though she said
+nothing, but prepared to obey her aunt. With Mabel, however, this was
+quite an unexpected pleasure, and so rapidly did she gather up her work,
+without folding it neatly together, that the needle ran into her finger,
+and brought the blood so quickly that two or three large spots were
+deposited on the sleeves.
+
+'Oh, aunt will be so cross when she sees what I have done!' said the too
+hasty Mabel. 'Must I try to wash the spots out, Clara?' she inquired.
+
+'No, no!' replied her cousin; 'Bridget will do that for you with a
+little brush. But I wonder, Mabel,' she added, 'at your thinking dear
+aunt would be _cross_ because you have had an accident. You seem to have
+some very strange ideas in your head; you will know better soon, I
+hope.'
+
+The room was quickly cleared, and Clara, taking the soiled sleeve in her
+hand, went with her cousin into the kitchen, where they found the tidy
+servant-of-all-work already clean, and sitting comfortably with her
+knitting in hand, and the cat on her knee. Bridget readily undertook the
+task required of her; and the young people, having obtained the food for
+the poultry, ran off to distribute it.
+
+A capital house Clara's feathered family had, with no rent nor taxes to
+pay. It was a long shed under the tall trees at the bottom of the
+garden, boarded over at the top, but with wire-work all across the
+front, where a door was made to go in at, in order to clean out the
+floor.
+
+Inside, it was the picture of comfort, and of cleanliness too, for
+careful Bridget took care of that. Old Netty and her chicks had a place
+to themselves--a house within a house--so that the little ones could not
+make an escape.
+
+'Oh, I see there are two new-laid eggs,' said Clara. 'I am so glad; we
+can take them to poor Simmons when we go to-morrow. I dare say there are
+two or three more in the house that I may have.'
+
+'I thought you said the fowls were your own, to do what you liked with,'
+said Mabel. 'If I were you, I should sell the eggs, and not give them
+away,' she added.
+
+'And what should I do with the money?' inquired Clara. 'I have
+everything I want; aunt takes care of that.'
+
+'But you might buy nice gloves and neckties with the money you would get
+for the eggs,' urged Mabel. 'I don't see that you have much of that sort
+of thing.'
+
+'I have all that I want in that way,' replied her cousin. 'I would ten
+times rather give away the eggs than take money for them. When I first
+came to live with dear aunt, she had this place fitted up on purpose for
+me; and she bought the fowls, and food, and everything that was wanted,'
+said Clara. 'In three months' time I had a beautiful brood of chickens;
+and when they were grown, aunt asked me what I meant to do with my
+surplus stock. I said that I really did not know; so she suggested that
+I should sell the chickens, and give the money to the poor. "Sell that
+ye have, and give alms," said my aunt. "This, dear Clara, is our
+Saviour's advice," she added, and I was only too glad and thankful to
+follow her advice. So I made a purse, in which I save up my
+egg-and-chicken money, and we buy calico, and print, and flannel, and
+provide other things,' said Clara, in great glee, for it was, indeed,
+one of her chief sources of pleasure to give to the poor.
+
+'I'm sure you would not catch me doing in that way,' said Mabel. 'I see
+no fun in keeping fowls only for the sake of giving to other people.'
+
+'No _fun_, perhaps,' replied her cousin; 'but you would find real
+pleasure, Mabel, in being able to relieve the wants of the sick and the
+afflicted. Oh, I know,' she added, 'you will--you _must_ change your
+mind when you go with us to some of the neighbouring cottages. I do hope
+we shall not be prevented from going to-morrow.'
+
+Whatever effect time and scenes were to have on our young friend Mabel,
+certainly her cousin's arguments and declarations produced none at the
+present; so we must close the chapter of the first day, and begin
+another.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+VISIT TO THE COTTAGE.
+
+
+The evening of this first day at Oak Villa had been very pleasantly
+spent by Aunt Mary and her nieces at Mr. Maitland's, where the young
+people engaged themselves on the lawn, while the elders talked over the
+various events of the very eventful times, without being able to come to
+any conclusion as to how they were to be mended.
+
+Mabel either really _was_ in a very gracious humour this evening, or the
+fact of a young gentleman being of their party made her careful not to
+give way to temper; though it must be confessed that Harry tried it two
+or three times. However, all went on smoothly enough, and at nine
+o'clock the friends separated.
+
+The gorgeous sunset gave token of a fine day on the morrow, when Clara
+anticipated the pleasure of finishing her labour of love, and taking a
+most acceptable present to her poor friends the Simmonses. The bell rang
+at the usual time in the morning, and after breakfast the work of the
+day before was resumed.
+
+'Two hours, I think, will finish what you want to take with you to-day,'
+said Aunt Mary, 'so you will have time to go before dinner. You can take
+poor Simmons some eggs, and Bridget has a rice pudding in the oven for
+the children.'
+
+'How delighted they will be to see us again; only I wish you could have
+gone with us, aunt,' said Clara.
+
+'I wish I could have done so, but I expect a person to call on business
+this morning, so I must not be out of the way,' said the lady.
+
+Steadily the work progressed; even Mabel, by the aid of her bright
+silver thimble and sharp needle, seemed to get on better than she had
+done the day before: so that not only was the night-shirt finished, but
+a little pinafore had been cut out and completed in less than the two
+hours. And now all had been packed up, the two girls were ready for
+their walk; and the careful Bridget had placed the pudding and the eggs
+in an oval basket for Clara to carry, while they were preparing for
+their walk.
+
+'It will be frightfully hot walking this morning, I know,' said Mabel.
+'I wish our visit to the cottage could be put off until the evening; go
+and ask Aunt Mary if it may, Clara,' she added.
+
+'No, I couldn't do that,' replied her cousin. 'Aunt never tells us to do
+anything that is unreasonable, and I know that she wishes very much that
+the children should have the pudding for their dinner, and that the poor
+sick man should have the new-laid eggs. Come, Mabel dear, be quick,' she
+added; 'we shall be under the shade of the trees great part of the way.'
+
+'And who is to carry the basket and this parcel?' inquired Mabel, giving
+a rather contemptuous look at the rolled-up work.
+
+'You may carry whichever you like,' said Clara; 'it does not matter to
+me which I take. Indeed, I shouldn't mind if I had to carry both,
+neither of them are heavy.'
+
+'Perhaps not,' said the proud girl, 'but it is so servant-like to be
+carrying parcels and baskets; I wonder Aunt Mary likes you to do it.'
+
+'Oh, Mabel!' cried her cousin, 'I can't help laughing at you. Why, you
+should see what bundles aunt and I do carry sometimes. I suppose you
+would be quite shocked.'
+
+'I shouldn't wish to be seen with you,' replied the silly girl. 'I don't
+think, either, that it is any laughing matter.' And Clara, knowing that
+it was a waste of time to argue the case any further, took up the
+obnoxious bundle, and ran downstairs; while Mabel followed, to find on
+the hall-table her share of the disagreeable, in the closely-packed
+basket.
+
+It really was a very hot walk that the cousins had before them, in spite
+of the occasional shade of the tall trees, and they were not at all
+sorry when they reached the small cottage of James Simmons, and were
+invited to sit and rest on the chairs, which the good wife dusted and
+put ready for them.
+
+The cottage was very poorly supplied with furniture--one table, and four
+chairs, and a stool, on which stood the washing-tub, out of which Mrs.
+Simmons was wringing some clothes from very hot water, when her visitors
+entered. If, however, there was but little furniture, there was no lack
+of children, and three of them were rolling about the floor, while a
+girl, it might be of the age of seven, was making an attempt to wash
+some stockings. Her small fingers did not seem to be equal to the task
+of rubbing and wringing, yet she was evidently proud of her
+occupation--a great deal more so than her brother appeared of his, in
+trying to take care of the youngest child, a chubby infant of six months
+old, who would persist in rolling off his knee, and making towards the
+fireplace, there to become a regular Cinderella.
+
+This scene, I need hardly say, was anything but delightful to the new
+visitor, though she did not refuse to seat herself on the offered chair;
+while poor Mrs. Simmons, with many apologies for being found in such a
+rough state, wiped her hot face with her apron, and took the little one
+up from the floor, to the great relief of her brother Johnny, who
+appeared particularly interested in the contents of the basket, which
+Clara was proceeding to set upon the table.
+
+'Let me take the baby, Mrs. Simmons, while you put the eggs into a
+basin; I am afraid of their rolling off the table,' said Clara, as she
+held out her arms to take the very pretty, but certainly not very clean
+little one.
+
+'Oh, miss! she is not in a fit state for you to nurse,' replied the
+woman; 'I am quite ashamed that you should have found us all so dirty,
+but indeed I cannot help it. What with my husband being ill so long, and
+the washing, which must be done, I don't know sometimes which way to
+turn.'
+
+'My aunt wants much to know how your husband is,' said Clara; 'she would
+have come with us this morning, but she had an engagement.'
+
+'The doctor thinks, miss, that my husband may get well, though he says
+it may be many weeks yet before he will be able to walk. He has had a
+weary time of it, and if it had not been for Miss Livesay's kindness,
+and that of our good vicar and his wife, I think he could not have
+lived; for he required more nourishment than I could obtain for him, if
+I worked ever so hard.'
+
+'I know how glad my aunt will be to hear this good news,' said Clara;
+'and she has sent one of the night-shirts that we have made; I dare say
+she will bring the other herself. And now let me try on the pinafore for
+baby; I want to see whether it will fit.' Baby, however, stoutly
+resisted this trial, using arms and legs with marvellous dexterity, and
+almost twisting herself out of mother's arms; so the contest was given
+up for fear of creating a noise, which would have disturbed the invalid:
+while Clara's second suggestion, that baby should have some pudding,
+appeared to give entire satisfaction, and produced perfect calm, under
+which state of things the visitors rose to go, Mabel not having
+exchanged a word either with mother or children the whole time, and
+standing on the threshold of the door, waiting for her cousin, who was
+shaking hands with Mrs. Simmons, and bestowing a parting kiss on the red
+round cheeks of the now smiling baby.
+
+The young people walked on a short distance in silence; each had their
+own peculiar thoughts of the other. Mabel was the first to break calm.
+Then she said: 'How you could kiss that dirty little thing and offer to
+nurse it, I can't conceive, Clara; it quite sickens me to think of it,'
+said Mabel, with something like a shudder. 'I wonder Aunt Mary sends us
+to such places; it is work for Bridget to do, and not for us,' she
+continued. 'I don't think my mamma would approve of my going.'
+
+'Oh, you are mistaken there, I know,' said Clara; 'for I have often
+heard aunt tell of the poor people your mamma and she used to visit,
+before Aunt Ada married--yes, and for a long time after she was married,
+until she was poorly, and then of course she was obliged to give up; but
+I'm quite sure she will be glad to hear of your doing the same. Now we
+must make haste, for fear we should be too late for dinner.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+A CATASTROPHE.
+
+
+It was not a very pleasant trio that sat at the table the morning after
+the visit to the cottage. If Mabel had disliked the coarse work on which
+she had been employed the day before, her repugnance to the examination
+to which she was subjected by Aunt Mary, in order to test the
+capabilities of her niece, and to find out what lessons would be most
+appropriate for her, showed itself so plainly in fits of sullenness, or
+tears of vexation, that even Miss Livesay herself could not help
+feeling-dispirited; while Clara, though she tried to think only of her
+lessons, felt very much disposed to shed tears on her aunt's account.
+More than once, indeed, a subdued expression of rage escaped from the
+irritated Mabel; but it was so instantly and authoritatively checked by
+her aunt, that Mabel was made to feel that it would be useless for her
+to contend: so she sat and pored over her book in sullen silence.
+
+This lasted until near dinner-time, so that the results of this
+morning's work, so far as Mabel was concerned, had been anything but
+satisfactory when the books were put away; and it was with very painful
+feelings that Miss Livesay contemplated not only the drudgery she would
+be subjected to, in having to go through _early lessons_ with this
+refractory niece of hers (who was far, very far behind both Clara and
+the Maitlands in her learning), but the conflict she was likely to
+encounter with pride and obstinacy, evils she never before had to
+contend with.
+
+Aunt Mary, however, was not one to give way to despondency, and at the
+dinner-table she had resumed all her usual cheerfulness; nor did she
+make the least difference in her manners to her nieces, but chatted with
+them both, as if nothing had occurred to disturb her serenity.
+
+The mornings at Oak Villa were always devoted to lessons; in the
+afternoon there were two hours spent in work and reading; then the day's
+duties were finished, if we except the looking over the lessons for the
+following day, which Clara never omitted doing. And on this day she had
+a scheme in her head, both for doing Mabel good, and saving her dear
+aunt trouble.
+
+In short, she determined, if possible, to induce her cousin to exert
+herself in learning extra lessons, in order to overtake the young
+Maitlands and herself.
+
+She thought, perhaps, that the very pride in the young girl's
+composition would aid her in this task, and in this she was not
+mistaken. Mabel this afternoon was permitted to do some of the work she
+had brought from home; and what with this indulgence, and the clever and
+amusing book her aunt had been reading to them, she had quite recovered
+her spirits, and was as lively and cheerful as possible.
+
+'Isn't it time to feed the fowls, Clara?' inquired Mabel, when work and
+books were laid aside.
+
+'Yes, dear, it is,' replied her cousin; 'but I should be obliged if you
+would feed them for me to-day, as Aunt Mary wants me to write a letter
+to dear mamma before post-time.'
+
+'Oh, I shall be glad to do so, very glad!' said Mabel, who had her own
+motives for the alacrity she displayed.
+
+'Must I ask Bridget for the corn?' she inquired.
+
+'I dare say you will find it set ready on the kitchen table; Bridget
+never forgets,' said Clara, as she arranged her desk and writing
+materials.
+
+Mabel ran off in great glee, and was soon busily engaged in her very
+agreeable task; yet in spite of her endeavours, she found that it was
+impossible to give satisfaction to all her feathered friends. Some were
+too greedy, and would insist upon having more than their share, while
+others were not courageous enough to stand up for their rights, and so
+were easily repulsed, and came very badly off in the general scramble,
+notwithstanding Mabel's spirited attempts to make an equitable
+distribution. At last she got tired of trying to teach manners to the
+cock and hens, so she went to look after the pets, as she called the
+chickens. These, as we have before stated, had with their mother a
+separate establishment, and so they were permitted to peck their grains
+in peace, being in no danger of losing their share; though even among
+these tiny things there were contentions for a single grain, which
+perhaps three or four would strive after. As Mabel stood watching and
+admiring the little downy creatures, the desire came strongly over her,
+as it had done before, to take one up in her hand.
+
+'What harm could I do the little creature by just holding it in my hand
+for a minute?' said Mabel. 'And as to the old hen pecking at me, I don't
+care for that; and I dare say,' she added, 'Clara only told me this to
+frighten me.'
+
+As Mabel made this very unjust remark concerning her cousin, she opened
+the small door in the wire-work, and put her hand in to seize one of the
+chicks; but she was saluted with such a terribly hard peck from Dame
+Netty, that, had she not been very determined in the matter, she would
+have let the little chick go. Unfortunately for the little creature, her
+captor was very determined, and in spite of the hard peck, and the
+struggles of the bird, she took it out, and was in the act of shutting
+to the door, when the soft trembling thing slipped out of her hand, and
+fluttered away to its own destruction.
+
+Yes, there on the wall, slyly watching all that had been going on, and
+with as great a desire after the chicken as Mabel herself had, though
+for a vastly different purpose, sat the fine sleek cat, to whom my young
+readers have before been introduced, and quick as lightning she pounced
+down upon the poor chick, and carried it off.
+
+This was a terrible catastrophe, and Mabel stood for a moment in bitter
+dismay; she did not know what to do--how should she? The cat had
+disappeared, and by this time the poor chicken was killed, and perhaps
+eaten. Should she tell Clara? no, that would never do, for it would be
+sure to come to Aunt Mary's ears. It was not the first scrape that Mabel
+had got into, and we are sorry to add got out of by dissimulation; and
+now, after a little further consideration, she came to the unwise
+conclusion that it would be better to say nothing about the matter.
+After all, it was only one chick out of twelve; it perhaps would not be
+missed. And though she was sorry that the poor little thing had been
+killed, she solaced herself with the idea that there would soon be a
+fresh brood to attract her cousin's attention.
+
+Comforting herself with this idea, she walked into the dining-room,
+where she found the tea ready, and was soon joined by her aunt and
+cousin, who had finished their correspondence, and were now at liberty
+to take their evening walk as soon as the pleasant meal was ended.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+A VISIT TO THE VICARAGE.
+
+
+During tea-time, Aunt Mary proposed a walk to the vicarage, as she
+wanted to ask Mr. Newlove's opinion of the state of poor Simmons, as
+well as to inquire after the welfare of some of her pensioners, whom she
+had not yet had time to visit since her return home. The proposal
+pleased Clara, with whom the gentle Newlove was an especial favourite;
+though Mabel had conceived a dislike that she could give no reason for,
+to this quiet, sensible, and affectionate girl.
+
+It was with very different feelings that the cousins went upstairs to
+dress. Mabel, we must suppose, thought that as she was going to a
+clergyman's house, she should have to listen to a sermon; or if not
+that, to sit still, and say nothing, while the seniors talked about sick
+folks, and old men and women, till she should be quite wearied out; and
+this was certainly no pleasant prospect for a lively young lady. But
+Mabel said nothing of all this; as usual, her conversation turned on
+what she should wear.
+
+'Are you not going to change your dress, Clara?' said her cousin; 'you
+are surely not going to the vicarage in that dowdy-looking frock? Why,
+it is only fit to wear in the mornings, or to go visiting to dirty
+cottages, such as we went to yesterday.'
+
+'Now don't let us talk about dress,' said Clara; 'my frock is what Aunt
+Mary bought for me, and if she thinks it good enough for me to wear, I'm
+sure I do too. Besides, Mabel, you are very much mistaken if you think
+that Mr. or Mrs. Newlove would notice your dress, unless, indeed, it
+were a very smart one, such as I know they wouldn't like.'
+
+'Then I shan't care for _their_ likes, but I shall just put on what _I
+like_ myself,' said the graceless girl, as she took from her drawer a
+very pretty printed muslin, and proceeded to array herself in it,
+finishing off by donning a little black hat with a white feather in it.
+
+'Now, suppose it should rain,' suggested Clara, 'what becomes of your
+pretty frock and your white feather?'
+
+'There is not the least likelihood of rain,' replied Mabel; 'I never saw
+a finer evening;' and away she ran downstairs, but taking care to avoid
+a meeting with her aunt until they were all ready to start.
+
+It was indeed a lovely evening for a walk. It had been very hot at one
+time of the day, but there had been a thunder-shower in the afternoon,
+which had cooled the air, and given freshness of colouring to the
+surrounding vegetation, deepening the tints on flower and shrub and
+tree, while,
+
+  'The ling'ring sun seem'd loth to leave
+  Landskip so fair, to gentle eve.'
+
+Aunt Mary, though of course she noticed the difference in the dresses of
+her nieces, said nothing about it; but kept up, as she usually did, a
+conversation both amusing and instructive. Even Mabel forgot her fine
+clothes in listening to her aunt, and for the present seemed to be
+thrown out of self. Such a charm is there in wise teaching.
+
+Nor when they reached the pretty, secluded vicarage, and were heartily
+welcomed by its inmates, were the fears of Mabel at all likely to be
+realised, as instead of having to listen to a sermon, or details of old
+and sick people, she and Clara were walked off by Robert and Edith
+Newlove, to see the rabbits, and the ringdoves, and the poultry in their
+respective habitations.
+
+'How beautiful they are--- how very beautiful!' said Clara, speaking of
+the ringdoves; 'and so gentle too--they don't fight and squabble like my
+hens do over a few grains of wheat.'
+
+'Oh, they can peck one another sometimes,' said Edith; 'but they are
+not noisy about it like the fowls.'
+
+'And my rabbits are not at all noisy either,' said Robert; 'but the buck
+can be very cruel, for if we don't take care he makes nothing of eating
+up one or two of the little ones.'
+
+'Horrid creatures!' said Mabel. 'I shall never like rabbits again; it is
+quite shocking.'
+
+'It would indeed be quite shocking if they knew better,' replied Robert;
+'but they don't, so we must try to prevent them from acting cruelly. And
+after all,' he added, 'it is not half so bad as boys and girls doing
+wrong when they know better; yet we should not say of them that we
+should never like them again, should we, Miss Mabel?'
+
+'No, I suppose not,' said the conscience stricken girl, as she found
+herself standing before the fowls' house, which was the very model of
+Clara's, and indeed had been made by the same industrious hands, namely
+those of poor Simmons, who was now, and had been for months, lying on
+the bed of languishing.
+
+'You see the fowls are all gone to roost,' said Edith; 'the dear little
+chicks are under their mother's wing. I do wish you could have seen
+them; there are ten such beauties!'
+
+'Oh, I have got twelve,' cried Clara; 'and in a few days' time I expect
+we shall have twelve more, if Dame Partlet is as fortunate as Netty. Do
+come and see them, Edith dear, next week. Think what a family I, or
+rather Aunt, will have to provide for--twenty-four!'
+
+This was indeed not only counting the chickens before they were hatched,
+but not counting on misfortunes to those that were already hatched, and
+Mabel did not feel at all comfortable at the turn the conversation had
+taken; she was not sorry, therefore, when the servant came to say that
+Miss Livesay thought it time to go home.
+
+Of course the summons was immediately obeyed, and with very kind adieus,
+the friends, old and young, separated; Aunt Mary observing that 'they
+must walk rather quicker in returning home than they had in coming, as
+there were some stormy-looking clouds hanging overhead.'
+
+The mention of clouds and showers turned Mabel's attention to her dress,
+which, to say the truth, she had forgotten; and no wonder, as no one had
+taken the slightest notice of it, though the foolish girl had been at
+such trouble to make herself attractive. The mention of clouds and rain
+brought back Mabel's thoughts to the delicate frock and the new hat. She
+and Clara were a little in advance of their aunt, who had stopped for a
+moment to place a trifle in Mr. Newlove's hand for a very poor
+parishioner of his, of whom they had been talking.
+
+'Oh, do let us run!' cried Mabel, as she looked up, and noticed the
+gathering clouds; 'perhaps we may get home before it begins to rain, if
+we make haste.'
+
+'But Aunt Mary can't run,' replied Clara, 'and I am sure I shall not
+leave her; so you will have to run by yourself, Mabel, if you do go.'
+
+'I'm not going to have my dress spoiled,' said the excited girl, as she
+gathered up her pretty skirt, and commenced to walk very rapidly at
+first; but as her fears increased from feeling, as she thought, a drop
+of rain, the rapid walking turned into a run, not quick enough, however,
+to bring her to the desired haven before the threatened shower
+descended, and, in spite of her exertion, seemed likely to drench her to
+the skin before she could arrive at Oak Villa. There had been trees in
+the way home, under which she might have found shelter if she had not
+been in such a violent hurry. Now it was too late for Mabel, though
+Clara and her aunt were actually at the time standing secure beneath the
+leafy screen; not certainly in a very comfortable state of mind, for
+Miss Livesay knew that her niece could not have reached home before the
+drenching shower descended, and she felt very uneasy on her account.
+
+'I do hope that Bridget will take care that Mabel changes all her
+clothes,' said Aunt Mary; 'she must be wet through if she has been out
+in the rain. The showers are so very heavy, though they do not last
+long.'
+
+'I think this shower is nearly over now; do you think we may venture to
+go, aunt?' inquired Clara, who partook of her aunt's anxiety respecting
+her cousin.
+
+'Yes, dear; we have nothing on to spoil. A few drops will not do us any
+harm, and I fancy we shall have another downpour if we wait longer.'
+
+This was Aunt Mary's decided opinion, and on the strength of it, the
+anxious pair set forward on their way home, which place they certainly
+would not have reached with dry clothing, had not careful Bridget
+suddenly made her appearance with cloaks and umbrellas.
+
+This was rather an uncomfortable ending to a pleasant evening, but life
+has ever its ups and downs, its sunlight and its shadows, for the young
+as well as for the old. So it has ever been, and so it will ever be to
+the end of time.
+
+It would have been well for Mabel Ellis if the spoiling of her dress had
+been the worst result of her foolish pride. And yet, perhaps, I ought
+not to say that it would not have been well had the trouble ended there.
+Adversity is a _very stern_, but a _very wise_ teacher. We may not
+always see this to be so, and we may be very loth to acknowledge it,
+but it is a fact nevertheless. Aunt Mary's first thought, when she
+entered the house, was for Mabel, whom she found by the kitchen fire
+drying her petticoat, the muslin dress having been taken off, and hung
+over a chair.
+
+'Have you changed shoes and stockings, my dear?' was the first question,
+which was answered in the negative. But we will leave further details
+for the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+A SERIOUS ILLNESS.
+
+
+As we have before stated, Mabel had only changed her upper garments.
+Stockings and shoes, though soaked through in coming along the wet
+grass, she had not thought of, and her wet petticoat steamed and smoked
+as she stood drying it by the kitchen fire.
+
+'Dear me! dear me!' exclaimed Aunt Mary; 'why did you not immediately
+take off all your wet clothes? Clara dear, go with Mabel upstairs, help
+her to undress and get into bed, and I will bring some warm tea up as
+soon as possible. I am quite distressed to see the state you are in, my
+dear,' she added.
+
+Mabel, though of course obliged to obey, went off very reluctantly,
+declaring all the time that she should be no worse for the wetting, and
+feeling far more concerned about the spoiling of her dress and her hat,
+than fearful of any consequence that might ensue from keeping on her wet
+clothes.
+
+The room in which the cousins slept opened into one that was occupied by
+their aunt, so that she could easily communicate with them if anything
+was the matter. Strict in requiring obedience to her commands, and in
+not permitting any of her rules to be disregarded, Miss Livesay was
+still a most loving and unselfish relative and friend, untiring in the
+kind attentions to the sick, ever glad and ready to relieve the needy,
+or to give a word of advice or sympathy when it was likely to be well
+received. All the household had retired to rest but herself; she had
+seen her dear children, as she often called Clara and Mabel, fast asleep
+in their separate little white beds, but she still felt anxiety on
+Mabel's account.
+
+'Poor, foolish girl,' said the kind aunt to herself, 'I wonder whether I
+shall ever be able to convince her of her folly. I cannot change her
+heart, but I will pray that it may be changed; and I will do everything
+in my power, both by example and precept, to show her that "Wisdom's
+ways are ways of pleasantness, and her paths peace."' As Miss Livesay
+said this, she once more went to look at the sleepers in the adjoining
+room. Clara lay pale, peaceful, and soundly asleep; but Mabel, though
+also asleep, looked flushed, and appeared restless.
+
+This, Aunt Mary thought, might arise from the hurry and agitation of
+running home so quickly; she did not wish to meet evils half-way, yet,
+on retiring from the room, she made up her mind to take another look at
+the sleeping girl during the night. This she accordingly did, but
+observing no fresh symptoms for alarm, she lay down again, and only
+waked when Clara came to tell her that Mabel complained of great pains
+in her limbs. This sad news completely awed the kind aunt, for she
+dreaded an attack of rheumatic fever, as Mabel's mamma had been a
+dreadful sufferer two years before from that very serious malady. As
+soon as possible, the doctor was sent for. Aunt Mary was no alarmist,
+and could herself have dealt with any ordinary complaint; but she wished
+to have the doctor's opinion, and, if possible, his decision, on the
+real nature of the illness from which her niece was suffering, in order
+that she might act with befitting caution, if there were any likelihood
+of infection.
+
+Clara sat disconsolate by the side of the pretty white bed, where her
+poor cousin lay with feverish head and aching limbs. The stricken girl
+was very quiet, except when she made an attempt to move, and then the
+pain caused her to utter a faint cry, which thrilled through Clara's
+kind heart; for she had never before been called upon to watch by a
+sick-bed.
+
+'Oh, dear Mabel, I am so sorry for you,' said the affectionate
+child-nurse; 'I wish I could do anything to give you relief from your
+pains.'
+
+'Thank you, dear Clara,' said the poor girl, in a quiet, subdued tone,
+very unlike that of the preceding day; even in this short time
+reflection had been at work, conscience had not been inactive, for
+retribution seemed to have come so suddenly as a necessary consequence
+of wrongdoing.
+
+But the doctor is here now; we must not keep him waiting. A kind,
+fatherly, benevolent-looking man stands beside the bed of pain, on one
+side, and the loving, anxious aunt and cousin on the other.
+
+'You are quite right in your idea as to the nature of the complaint,
+dear madam,' said Dr. Madox. 'Your niece is suffering from an attack of
+rheumatic fever; a very sharp attack it appears to be, but it need not
+on that account be a long one, though, just now, it is impossible to
+predict. However, we will do all we can for her,' added the doctor,
+cheerfully; 'in the meantime, you know, of course, that there is no
+danger of infection, though I should advise the patient to be kept
+perfectly quiet.'
+
+This was indeed a very painful trial for all parties; but Aunt Mary felt
+that the hand that afflicts can also sustain. She knew, also, that pain
+and suffering and sorrow are often antidotes to the much more serious
+evils of pride and vanity and sinful tempers, and that, when they are
+submitted to patiently, they bring forth excellent fruits.
+
+'Let me nurse dear Mabel myself, aunt,' said Clara; 'I will do
+everything I can do for her night and day. Oh, I do hope she will soon
+be well again!'
+
+'And I _hope_ so too, my dear Clara,' replied her aunt; 'but you must
+not think that you can attend to your cousin without help. You may of
+course remain with her for company; and this need not perhaps hinder
+your lessons, unless she should become very impatient, as is often the
+case with sufferers in this severe malady. But health, your health, my
+child, must be attended to; you must have air and exercise. And I fear
+that we shall all be required to lend a helping hand to the poor invalid
+should the fever greatly increase. I am just going to write to my
+sister, Mabel's mamma. I must be careful not to alarm her, in her weak
+state, as she is very nervous. You can return now to your cousin,'
+continued Aunt Mary, 'and be sure you do not leave her alone until I
+come to you. Ring for anything that is wanted.'
+
+And now for weeks and weeks, this same selfish, self-willed girl, Mabel
+Ellis, lay on the bed of pain and languishing, and I may add, I am
+rejoiced to say, on the bed of sincere repentance. Yes, the salutary
+lessons of adversity had not been taught in vain, for they were not
+transitory ones, they had taken deep root; while the Divine precepts and
+heavenly counsels, which she had heard daily from her most loving and
+tender nurses, sank deep into a heart out of which had been weeded, to
+make room for them, the rank and bitter weeds of pride and passion.
+
+Mabel Ellis was indeed an altered character, when able once more to sit
+up in the arm-chair; though so weak that she could scarcely speak above
+her breath, her looks of love and thankfulness, and the soft eyes often
+filled with glad tears, spoke most expressively to the hearts of her
+aunt and cousin, for they felt that their labour of love had not been in
+vain; and though all Aunt Mary's usual routine had been put aside, and
+for a time a new phase of life had been set before her, in this trial
+she could feel thankful.
+
+  'The seeds of affliction and pain,
+  When the soil has been moistened with rain
+  That flow'd from a penitent heart,
+  Into beauty, and fragrance will start.
+
+  'Oh flowers of celestial birth!
+  Though springing from clods of the earth,
+  How rich are the odours ye shed
+  O'er the couch where the languishing head
+
+  'Is pillow'd in gentle repose,
+  Forgetting awhile its past woes;
+  Then waking, the incense of praise,
+  With your odorous breathings, to raise.'
+
+None but those who are recovering from a serious illness can conceive
+the feelings of gratitude and love which take possession of the heart
+when it is rightly disposed, what time the rod of affliction is removed.
+Mabel seemed to feel herself a new creature, and as she threw her arms
+round her cousin's neck, she gave expression to feelings of thankfulness
+and love for the kind attention she had received from her and from her
+aunt. She did not fail to lament bitterly the pride and sinful temper,
+which now appeared to her to have been the principal cause of all her
+trouble.
+
+It was while she was thus bitterly lamenting the past, and weeping on
+Clara's shoulder, that Aunt Mary came rather suddenly into the room and
+surprised them.
+
+'Come, my children,' said the kind lady, 'this will never do! Nurse and
+convalescent both in tears,' she added, for Clara was also weeping; 'I
+am afraid, dear Mabel, I shall have to dismiss your young attendant, and
+engage one with more judgment and with less sympathy.'
+
+'Oh no, no, dear aunt,' was the ready response. '_I_ will behave better,
+I assure you,' said Clara. 'Poor Mabel is weak, and a little thing makes
+her cry. She is only sorrowing now for the past; you will teach her, I
+know, to hope for the future.'
+
+'Yes, even while we sorrow, we must hope; hope is the great lightener of
+all trouble. Come, cheer up, my child,' said Aunt Mary; 'I have some
+pleasant news for you to-day. I have just had a letter from Camden
+Terrace, to say that your papa and mamma and Freddy are coming to see
+you this afternoon, and to drink tea with me. Ah, I see you can smile,
+and be glad. We must have no more tears to-day; entertain only thoughts
+of love and thankfulness.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+A FAMILY PARTY.
+
+
+What a blessing it is to be possessed of a happy and cheerful
+disposition!
+
+And who so likely to have such blessing as those who not only _say_ 'Our
+Father which art in Heaven,' but believing what they say, 'try to walk
+with Him in love, as dear children.' Such persons diffuse cheerfulness
+all around them; while on the contrary, those who are selfish and
+passionate, sow the seeds of trouble and discontent broadcast around
+them. And pride--oh, that hateful sin--what have children to do with
+pride? Helpless and dependent as they are on parents or friends, what
+have they to be proud of? Nothing!
+
+Look at that curly-headed little boy, Freddy Ellis, who would be
+beautiful were it not for the disdainful curl on his upper lip, and the
+indignant expression in his eye when he has received some supposed
+affront. Listen to the passionate vehemence of his words when he is
+refused some indulgence which he has been teasing his mamma to grant
+him, though it would surely try your patience, as it has done mine, to
+hear the stamping and screaming that is going on just outside the
+parlour-door; and yet, for all this, Freddy receives no punishment. Oh
+no! 'It would break his spirit.' What absurd reasoning!
+
+Do we inquire from whom is this spirit, which has more of the _serpent_
+than the _dove_? The answer will be, 'It is _not_ from the meek and
+lowly Saviour!'
+
+Oh parents, whoever you be, take care lest you foster the serpent that
+will diffuse its subtle poison over the cherished blossoms which you
+are, or _ought to be_, training for heaven, and leave a sting which may
+pierce your own hearts. One thing we may be sure of, that the faults
+which we, through negligence or weak indulgence, leave unchecked in our
+children in early life, a wiser though severer hand than ours will use
+the rod of correction to eradicate. And can this really be _love_, that
+puts off the proper time of chastisement, knowing that it is likely to
+be doubled on that account? Alas, no!
+
+But I must crave pardon for sermonising, and return to the sick chamber,
+for Mabel's papa and mamma have come to pay their promised visit. Poor
+girl, she is so thin and pale that papa, who has only seen her twice
+during her illness, is quite shocked, and sitting down beside the
+arm-chair, declares that he can scarcely believe she is his once plump,
+rosy girl. Mamma has seen her often, and has shed many a tear over her
+suffering child; but still it was a comfort to her to know that Mabel
+was in such good hands. Sister Julia is also here, looking very
+sorrowful; but Aunt Mary says:
+
+'Now I am not going to permit anybody who draws a long face to remain in
+my nursery; so those who look as if they were preparing to cry, instead
+of to smile, must please take a walk in the garden, till they have
+recovered themselves. What say you, Freddy, to this?' inquired Aunt Mary
+of her little nephew, who stood looking on, not knowing seemingly
+whether he was expected to smile or to cry, though on hearing his aunt's
+cheery address, he came to the conclusion that it was not necessary for
+him to commence the disagreeable alternative, although it must be
+confessed he was a ready practitioner in yelling bouts.
+
+'I should like to go into the garden, aunt,' responded Freddy. 'I want
+to see Clara's hens and chickens; may I go now?'
+
+'No, not just now, dear,' replied his aunt; 'your cousin will go with
+you presently; she is engaged just at present, so you will have to
+wait.'
+
+This waiting, however, did not at all suit the impatient spirit of
+Master Fred, and on Aunt Mary's going out of the room he gave expression
+to his vexation.
+
+'Why can't I go into the garden by myself, I wonder?' he exclaimed
+passionately to his mamma, by whose chair he was standing. 'Aunt needn't
+think that I should hurt the fowls; it is very unkind of her.'
+
+All this was said in a subdued tone, that papa, who was talking with
+Mabel, might not hear.
+
+'Hush, hush, Freddy!' said his mother; 'your Aunt Mary is never unkind:
+you should not say such things of her.'
+
+'But _I_ think she is very unkind,' repeated the boy emphatically, as if
+what he said must settle the point; but it only drew the attention of
+his papa, who inquired what the vehement talking was about, and
+threatened severe punishment if any of Fred's tempers were exhibited at
+Oak Villa.
+
+'Don't check the poor child so harshly,' said unwise mamma; 'he only
+wants his aunt to let him go and see the fowls. And really I think she
+might let him go, for he could do no harm.'
+
+Mr. Ellis had a strong inclination to reply to this ill-advised speech,
+but he looked at the pale face beside him, and prudently forbore any
+further remark.
+
+A nicely spread tea-table, on which there were plenty of cakes, smoothed
+down the ruffled temper of the spoilt boy; yet he did not forget what
+had all along been uppermost in his mind, namely, that he was to go and
+see the chickens as soon as tea was over. Had Mr. Ellis not been afraid
+of creating a disturbance at Oak Villa, he would certainly have
+prevented Fred's going into the garden, after his display of temper in
+his sister's room. He, however, made no opposition when the impatient
+boy, having despatched his tea and cake, made the announcement to his
+cousin Clara, that he was ready to go with her to see the fowls; and she
+good-naturedly rose from the table to attend him--not, however, without
+asking her aunt's leave.
+
+Freddy of course was delighted with all he saw, though he said he
+thought the chickens were very large ones, and inquired after those he
+had seen a month ago, being very difficult to be persuaded that those he
+was now looking at were really the very identical chickens.
+
+Like his sister Mabel, Freddy wanted to nurse one of the chickens; nor
+did he ask if he might do so, but while Clara went for the corn he
+opened the wire door and boldly thrust his hand in: only, however, to
+receive, as she had done, a severe peck from the hen, which sent him
+stamping and screaming up and down, no doubt to the great astonishment
+of the cock and hens, and the immediate disarrangement of the family
+party, who all rushed out to know what was the matter. It certainly was
+a severe peck that the old hen had given, and a very great fright that
+the household had been put into by the screams and the roaring of the
+cowardly boy, which continued as he clung to his mamma's dress, until he
+accidentally caught sight of his papa, and then the storm ceased as if
+by magic; and so much of sham had there been in the affair, that the
+tempest calmed down without leaving trace of sob or tear.
+
+Mr. Ellis saw that his presence had been effectual, so he only said a
+few words to the young rebel, but he cast a half-sorrowful, half-angry
+glance at his wife; and Aunt Mary could not help whispering, 'Ada, what
+troubles you are making for yourself!'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+MAY DAY.
+
+
+It was months before Mabel could really be said to have regained her
+health and strength. The dreary winter had passed away, and the tender
+leaves, and blossoms of April, had put forth their signs of returning
+spring.
+
+It must not however be supposed that the cold and dark season had been
+an unprofitable one; far from it. Though Mabel had been an occasional
+sufferer, during all that time, she and Clara had diligently attended to
+their studies, and had, Aunt Mary said, made rapid advance; while the
+inward change which had been experienced by the invalid left no room for
+regret either to herself or her friends.
+
+Mabel knew and felt that she had been healed of a far worse malady than
+any bodily one, and though, as in the case of rheumatic pains, hidden
+evils still gave occasional inward spasms, she had learned at whose
+hands she was to receive the healing draught, and she never failed to
+apply for it in the hour of need.
+
+I ought perhaps to have informed my readers, that soon after Mabel had
+been taken ill, Mr. and Mrs. Maitland, with their two daughters, Dora
+and Annie, had gone to spend the winter months in the west of England,
+with that lady's mother, who was now far advanced in years, and very
+desirous of having the company of this her last surviving child, and to
+feel the cheering influence of lively girlhood in the society of her
+truly loving and attentive granddaughters.
+
+And now, as I have before said, the winter had gone, and dewy April,
+with its smiles and tears, its soft green, tender leaves, its embryo
+buds and blossoms, its morning salutations which blithe birds sang in
+the half-clothed trees or in the air, made fragrant by the breath of
+primrose pale, or violet blue, or polyanthus bright--yes, dewy April,
+notwithstanding all these delights, was about to take its departure, in
+order to make way for the pleasant month of May, whose praises Aunt Mary
+celebrated in rhyme. Oak Villa was indeed a highly privileged home; no
+young girl, whose mind was properly balanced, could have considered it
+otherwise. Its owner was cheerful as the lark, industrious as the bee,
+thoughtful and provident as the ant, benevolent as!--well, I won't liken
+her to any of our four-footed friends; indeed, just at this moment, I
+must confess that no comparison occurs to me: but Aunt Mary loved her
+nieces, delighted to impart to them those stores of knowledge to which
+she was herself constantly adding, and which a very retentive memory
+enabled her to draw on for almost any occasion.
+
+Master Freddy, who, in his visit to the truly happy home I have been
+speaking of, had contrived to make himself as disagreeable as possible,
+had been punished for his conduct by being prevented from going with his
+sister Julia in her occasional visits to Oak Villa; this, of course, was
+by papa's order, and the prohibition was almost as grievous to mamma as
+it was to Freddy, but there was no redress. Julia had enjoyed many a
+pleasant walk with her sister and cousin, and she was particularly fond
+of going to see the poor people, especially Mrs. Simmons, whose husband
+had in a great measure regained his strength, and was now able to do at
+least some little towards the maintaining of his family. It had been
+very dull at home for Julia, after her sister had gone to Oak Villa; but
+she had her mamma to attend to, and to teach the children, though to say
+the truth this latter was almost an impossibility where Freddy was
+concerned, so he was often sent down to stay with mamma, being
+pronounced incorrigible.
+
+But May morning has come at last; it is Aunt Mary's birthday, and such a
+lovely day! The cousins have a great deal of work to do before
+breakfast-time: may-blossoms to gather, garlands to twine, vases to fill
+with the sweet-scented early flowers, the breakfast-table to arrange
+with the best possible taste. As to Bridget, she had the day before
+been preparing for this special holiday; and even now she is very busy
+with her hot cakes and buns, which bid fair to be of the very best
+quality. Nine o'clock was the appointed hour for breakfast, and as Aunt
+Mary was not permitted by the young decorators to see what had been done
+in the way of preparation, it had been agreed that prayers were to be
+read in her bedroom, where, at half-past eight, Clara and Mabel, and
+Bridget, made their appearance; the former clasping Aunt Mary's neck,
+kissing her, and offering their most sincere and loving good wishes, the
+latter looking on the while, with no less kindly feeling, and with the
+honest tears of a faithful and devoted heart in her eyes.
+
+Punctually at nine, a cab drove up to the garden-gate of Oak Villa,
+which Bridget stood ready to open, while Clara and Mabel waited at the
+hall-door, to receive the joyful little party, and Aunt Mary formed the
+background of the scene.
+
+'How smart you are, Freddy,' remarked Clara, as she handed that young
+gentleman out of the cab; 'why, I never saw you in that dress before.'
+
+'We were kept waiting some time,' said his mamma, 'because he would not
+have his other clothes on. I was afraid we should be too late, so I let
+him have his own way.'
+
+'As usual, my dear sister,' said Aunt Mary, smiling, as she kissed and
+welcomed her sister. 'I'm afraid Freddy's light clothes will come to
+grief before the day is over, but he must take care.'
+
+'Oh, how beautifully you have set out the table!' was the general
+exclamation as they all entered the breakfast-room together; and really,
+it was a very imposing sight, and the juveniles thought a very
+appetising sight, for ham, and eggs, and tongue, and chicken, and cakes,
+and buns, make a strong appeal for their share of commendation, even
+where the more delicate and refined tastes are attracted by beautiful
+colours and delicious odours.
+
+It is really a very pleasant party that sits round this well-appointed
+table, though the kind and hospitable hostess regrets much that her
+brother-in-law, Mr. Ellis, was not able to be of the company. Aunt Mary
+knew who it was that kept order at home, and much, very much did she
+wish that her sister would be guided by her husband in the management of
+their children. But now there is nothing but bright looks and smiling
+happy faces, if we except that of Master Fred, who is looking round at
+the several dainties, apparently considering which he shall choose from
+first.
+
+Unfortunately for the peace of society, Aunt Mary helped Freddy to some
+ham without being asked, and before that young gentleman had made up
+his mind as to what he should choose. This was indeed a sad mistake,
+though done without the slightest suspicion of giving offence; but the
+offence was very quickly manifested.
+
+'I didn't want ham,' said the rude boy, as he pushed his plate from him;
+'I wanted some tongue.'
+
+'That is not a proper way to speak, my dear,' said his aunt; 'and you
+must eat what I have given you first, then you shall have some tongue.'
+
+This was strange language to the wayward boy; he resented it by another
+push of his plate, and leaning back in his chair with the determination
+of a martyr.
+
+Wonderful, he thought it, that no one at the breakfast-table, not even
+mamma, took the slightest notice of him, or seemed to care whether he
+had any breakfast or not. The fact was that a very significant look from
+Aunt Mary had imposed silence upon mamma, and sisters, and cousins, and
+the little ones were far too busy on their own account to give heed to
+Freddy, who was quarrelling with his bread and butter. In short, neither
+by word nor look had any effort been made to soothe the perturbed spirit
+of the really hungry boy.
+
+This state of things, however, was not to be endured; so thought Fred,
+when, after waiting a considerable time, and casting furtive glances
+around to see if there were any signs in his favour, but perceiving
+none, he pushed his chair away from the table and rushed out of the
+room, quite unable longer to suppress his passion or his tears. This was
+the signal for Mrs. Ellis to remonstrate, which she had all along wished
+to do.
+
+'Really, Mary, you are too severe on the poor boy,' she began, but was
+immediately, though kindly, silenced by Miss Livesay.
+
+'Not now, if you please, dear,' said Aunt Mary; 'we will not discuss
+this point before the juveniles, we will talk it over by-and-by. In the
+meantime, Freddy has, I hear, gone into the garden, where he can amuse
+himself without getting into mischief.'
+
+The latter part of this speech might have been omitted with propriety,
+but we must not forestall. The absence of the high-spirited young
+gentleman did not seem at all to lessen the enjoyment of the little
+people, who really behaved remarkably well, being for the most part
+under the management of a good nursery-maid, except when they were
+having their little lessons with Julia. Mrs. Ellis did not like the
+trouble of children herself, but through her weak-mindedness she
+certainly did what she could to make them a trouble to other people. The
+breakfast-party were just on the eve of breaking up, when a violent
+screaming in the back garden seemed to upset Aunt Mary's idea that
+Freddy could not get into any mischief there, and soon the whole party
+were in the back garden to ascertain the cause of the disturbance.
+There, at the large rain-water barrel, covered with wet and dirt, yet
+holding fast by the top, stood the unfortunate Fred, his face crimson
+with fear and excitement, while he still tried with all his might to
+turn back the tap which he had so unluckily loosened, and which now,
+like himself, refused to submit to a weak hand, but was readily reduced
+to order by a strong one; for Bridget was at the scene of action, and
+set free the boy, now completely shamed, if not subdued, by having to
+appear before the whole party as an object of commiseration, if not
+ridicule.
+
+Of course there were no boy's habiliments at Oak Villa, and Fred had to
+undergo the further humiliation of being put into his sister's bed in
+one of her nightdresses, while his own clothes were drying.
+
+It must be confessed that a great reaction had taken place since the
+cold water had been thrown on the fiery young spirit, for there had been
+more than the mere wetting of the body. Fasting also had done its
+beneficial work; the craving stomach seemed to be resisting the defiant
+will. And when Freddy found himself quietly between the sheets, with
+only his sister Mabel--who had brought some breakfast up--to witness his
+humiliation, he very gladly, I might almost say thankfully, turned _to_
+the tempting viands which he had so short a time ago turned _from_ with
+disgust. Yes, the piece of ham was there, and this time it was not
+pushed back; but there was no tongue, which had been desired and denied
+before. Aunt Mary never did things by halves.
+
+Here we will leave this graceless Freddy; he will have no lack of
+amusement while his clothes are drying, for Mabel and Clara have brought
+him books and pictures, and some old toys which had been put by: but
+Aunt Mary insists that Freddy is to be left to himself, after she has
+seen him, and kindly, but forcibly, shown him the foolishness, as well
+as the wickedness, of indulging in pride and evil temper. After all, May
+Day was at Oak Villa a very happy day to all who were there.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+AN EXCHANGE.
+
+
+Though the cold-water system had acted as a sedative with Master Fred,
+during the afternoon and evening of May Day, and though every precaution
+had been used to prevent any serious effects afterwards from the
+wetting, yet the boy did take cold; and so feverish and restless did he
+become, that the good Dr. Maddox, who had attended Mabel, was sent for
+without delay. His prescription, however, was not a very alarming one:
+namely, castor oil and some spirits of sweet nitre.
+
+'Don't frighten yourself, dear madam,' said the doctor: '_this_ is not a
+case of rheumatic fever; nothing but a slight influenza cold. But you
+must take care to give him the medicine.' The doctor laid great stress
+on this.
+
+Of course the medicine was procured, but, alas! papa was not at home,
+and no amount of persuasion or coaxing would induce the obstinate little
+fellow to take it. It was in vain that mamma promised all sorts of toys,
+and produced preserves and lumps of sugar to take the taste out of his
+mouth, or threatened him with severe illness and more nauseous stuff, if
+this were not taken. It was no use, poor Mrs. Ellis was obliged to give
+it up; and heartily did she wish that her good sister Mary would call in
+the course of the day, for she dreaded her husband's coming home, and
+finding that the doctor's advice had not been followed. It was about
+three o'clock in the afternoon when the anxiously-expected visitor
+arrived at Camden Terrace. Of course she knew nothing about Fred being
+poorly; she had merely come to make general inquiries, and to see that
+Mrs. Ellis was no worse for the fatigue of May Day.
+
+'Oh, I am better than usual, dear Mary,' she replied to the kind
+inquiry; 'but I am troubled about Fred now. He is very poorly, in bed,
+and the doctor has ordered medicine for him, which I cannot get him to
+take. I have been longing for you to come; will you try if you can
+induce him to take it?'
+
+Aunt Mary smiled, as she said: 'Do you remember, dear, a former trial
+that I had with this young tyrant of yours, when, being very determined
+myself, I held him fast and pressed the glass to his mouth, whereupon he
+actually bit a great piece out of it, at the same time kicking me so
+violently that I was fain to let him go, with, I believe, a mental
+promise that I would never again subject myself to such an indignity?'
+
+Mrs. Ellis could not help laughing; she had not forgotten the
+circumstance, but she pleaded now that Fred was two years older, and was
+not likely to repeat his exploit.
+
+'I know he is two years older,' said Aunt Mary, 'but I don't feel at all
+certain that he is two years better than he was; though he may be so
+much stronger as to increase my difficulty.'
+
+'Oh, do try, Mary dear,' urged Mrs. Ellis; 'I must get him to take it
+before his papa comes home.'
+
+'Oh, Ada, Ada!' exclaimed her sister, 'how is it that you have allowed
+this boy to gain the mastery over you, to your own great sorrow, and to
+his great disadvantage? But, come,' added the kind friend, 'give me the
+medicine, and I will try what I can do.'
+
+'Now, Freddy,' said his aunt, as she came into the bedroom, cup in hand,
+'I am come to see you, and to make you better if I can. I suppose you
+are not fond of lying in bed this fine day,' she added.
+
+'Oh no, aunt; I want to get up, but mamma won't let me.'
+
+'Well, dear, you know, you must always try to do as mamma wishes you,
+because she knows what is best for you; but I have brought something
+from the doctor that is sure to do you good, and it is to be taken
+immediately.'
+
+'I can't take it, aunt, it is such nasty stuff,' said the boy, with
+disgust.
+
+'I know it is very nasty stuff, Freddy, and, like you, I can't bear to
+take medicine; but when I know that it is to make me well, I am not so
+foolish as to refuse it. So now sit up like a man, and take the cup in
+one hand, and this little mint-drop in the other; drink off the nasty
+stuff in a moment, and pop the mint-drop into your mouth at once; you
+will never feel the taste of the medicine after that.'
+
+Whether it was the decisive manner in which Aunt Mary spoke, or the
+belief in the efficacy of the mint-drop, or the appeal to the manliness
+of the patient, we cannot say, but a magical effect had been produced,
+for the contents of the cup had been swallowed; and Fred, greatly
+relieved in mind, if not yet in body, laid down his head on the pillow
+and listened, evidently with much pleasure, to his aunt's commendations.
+
+This short illness of Freddy's was followed by a much more serious one
+of his mamma's. It had been a long time coming on, and it was the
+doctor's opinion that it might be of some months' continuance; rest and
+quiet were ordered, but they are not easily obtained where there are
+refractory children at Freddy's age. It would be easy enough to keep the
+little ones quiet, but Mrs. Ellis had permitted this turbulent boy of
+hers to make appeals to her on every trifling occasion, and to stand and
+whine and cry until he obtained what he wanted, because mamma was worn
+out with his teasing. Now that she was really so ill as to be more than
+usually affected by any disturbance, it became a question with Aunt Mary
+(though it was to her a very painful one) whether it would not be
+expedient, and the right thing to do, to make an exchange in favour of
+the invalid, and to substitute Mabel for her brother Fred, taking the
+responsibility of that rather notorious rebel upon herself, and giving
+her dear sister the benefit of a tender nurse, who had grown wise beyond
+her years, through much suffering and good teaching.
+
+If there had been the shadow of a doubt on the kind lady's mind as to
+what course she should pursue, her visit to Camden Terrace the day after
+the doctor had given his opinion respecting Mrs. Ellis, would have
+determined her; for on the front-door being opened, she heard a violent
+screaming and kicking, sufficient to disturb the nerves of a much less
+sensitive person than Mrs. Ellis.
+
+'Oh, that is Fred making that noise,' said Mabel, who had come with her
+aunt to visit mamma. 'Shall I go up to him?' she inquired.
+
+'No, my dear; go to the sick-room. I will myself encounter the rebel;'
+and Aunt Mary went straight upstairs, just as nurse opened the room-door
+to remonstrate with the unruly boy, who was quickly and unceremoniously
+caught up from the floor, and made to stand on his feet.
+
+'Let me not hear another sound from you while I am here,' said his aunt.
+'And, Jane,' she added, speaking to the nurse, 'please to put up in a
+small basket this young gentleman's night-clothes. I intend to take him
+home with me; he must not remain here to make his poor mamma worse than
+she is.' So saying, Miss Livesay left the nursery, and proceeded to her
+sister's bedroom, where she found Mabel arranging the pillows, and
+making the bed rather more comfortable for her poor mamma.
+
+Master Freddy had been completely taken by surprise, and he seemed at a
+loss at first how to give vent to the suppressed passion that was
+swelling within; but when nurse said, 'I am very glad indeed that your
+aunt is going to take you away, for then we shall have some peace in the
+house,' he jumped off the stool on which he had been sitting, and would
+have struck her with a brush which he took from the table, had she not
+forcibly held both his hands, and threatened to take him at once to the
+room where Aunt Mary was.
+
+'You needn't put up my night-shirt,' said passionate Fred, 'for I shan't
+go with that nasty old thing!' This was, however, uttered in a subdued
+tone, and elicited 'Shame, shame!' from nurse, and even from little
+Gerty.
+
+'I think,' added Jane, 'you are the very worst boy I ever did see, and I
+wouldn't stop here if you was obliged to be kept in the nursery, which I
+suppose you would be, now your mamma's so poorly, for it isn't to be
+expected that you will be allowed to go teasing her about every little
+thing. I _am_ glad, very glad, you are going away; and I hope Miss
+Livesay will keep you a very long time,' added nurse, while Fred, not
+daring to explode, on account of his aunt's being so near, vented his
+passion on the poor kitten by kicking it violently from under the stool,
+where he had again seated himself.
+
+'Ada dear,' said Aunt Mary to her sister, 'I am going to propose a
+transfer, which, though I must confess it will be a very painful one to
+me, yet perhaps may in the end be good for all parties; and, I think,
+will prove for your especial benefit now you are so unwell. It is my
+intention--if you do not object,' continued Miss Livesay, 'to leave dear
+Mabel with you, and to take that refractory young gentleman, whose
+kicking and shouting, as I came to the door, must have disturbed you,
+home with me to Oak Villa. I intend to remain with you this afternoon,
+while Mabel goes to our house to tell Bridget to prepare a bed for Fred.
+I dare say, before I want to leave, Mr. Ellis will be home, and then I
+shall have no fear of a scene with Master Freddy: he will not venture on
+opposition when his papa is here.'
+
+'Oh, dear Mary!' said Mrs. Ellis, 'how kind it is of you to care for me
+and mine so much! I can never thank you enough for what you have done
+for dear Mabel; but she, poor girl, won't like to stay in a sick-room.'
+
+'Mamma dear, don't say that!' exclaimed the now affectionate Mabel; 'I
+will nurse you day and night. I shall only be doing for you what dear
+aunt and Clara did for me, when I was so ill.'
+
+'Well now, you must give me some work to do,' said Aunt Mary; 'I will
+sit with your mamma while you go down and tell Bridget to prepare a bed
+in my dressing-room for your brother. I shall take care to keep him near
+me day and night.' This speech was addressed to Mabel, who was very
+glad to find that it was her aunt's intention to remain till the
+evening; she soon set off on her errand, though she feared she should be
+the bearer of no very pleasant news to Bridget, who would certainly not
+at all like the advent of such an unruly boy at their peaceful home.
+
+'I'm sure our mistress will not let him have the lamp lighted in his
+bedroom all night, as nurse says he has at home,' said Bridget; 'so most
+likely that will be the first row he will make.'
+
+'Oh, leave aunt to settle all that, Bridget,' said Mabel; 'you know how
+well she manages these matters.'
+
+''Deed I do, Miss Mabel; and who knows,' said the honest, plain-spoken
+servant, 'but what she may make as great a change in Fred as she did in
+you!'
+
+Bridget did not take into account the severe illness and mental
+suffering that had helped, with Aunt Mary's wise efforts, to work this
+reformation. She attributed all to her kind mistress. While Bridget
+attended to the commands of her mistress, Mabel went into the garden to
+gather some flowers for her mamma, as her aunt had requested her; and
+after bidding good-morning to the faithful servant, she wended her way
+quickly to her early home, thinking, as she went, what a blessing it was
+to have so kind a friend as Aunt Mary. During the time that Mrs. Ellis
+had been so unwell, the children had all dined together in the nursery
+at two o'clock; and Aunt Mary insisted that there should be no departure
+from this rule on her account, as she intended to make one of the party.
+At the hour appointed, the bell rang for dinner, and soon all were
+seated at the table but Fred; that young gentleman had chosen to make
+himself scarce, and notwithstanding the ringing of the bell, out of
+doors and in, a second time, he did not make his appearance.
+
+Great was the consternation of nurse at not being able to find Freddy;
+she began to fear that he had run away from home to avoid going to Oak
+Villa. He had once played such a trick, and made everybody miserable
+until he was found in the evening, and brought home by a woman who
+washed for his mamma. Mabel and Julia did not feel at all comfortable,
+though Aunt Mary would not let them leave the table to go in search of
+the truant.
+
+'Don't distress yourselves, my dears,' said Miss Livesay; 'depend upon
+it, the culprit is not very far off. Nurse and cook will look after
+him.'
+
+And so the dinner proceeded, though Mabel would much rather have gone
+without, had she been permitted. All at once a thought struck her, and
+she exclaimed: 'I'll tell you where I think he is, aunt; where we once
+found him before!' and Mabel rose up and went to the window which looked
+on the side of the house where there was a large dog-kennel, and over
+it a wooden shed with a window in it, to which shed access was gained by
+a ladder. 'Yes!' exclaimed Mabel, 'I see the key is in the door where
+the apples are kept. We once found Fred there asleep on the straw;
+perhaps he is there now!' and the anxious girl was making her way out of
+the room, when a loud scream brought her back to the window, from which
+she beheld Freddy with his foot caught in the top step of the ladder,
+and his head ignominiously resting on the hard step.
+
+Mabel was off in an instant, but quick as she was, cook was there before
+her, and Fred had been turned right side upwards, and his blubbered face
+wiped with that towel of all work, Susan's apron; while his forehead
+presented a lump sufficiently large to account for the explosion they
+had been treated to.
+
+No doubt it had been Master Freddy's intentions, when he went into this
+hiding-place, to remain there all day, until Aunt Mary should take her
+leave; he did not know of her intention to remain at Camden Terrace
+until his papa came home, or perhaps he might have hit upon some other
+expedient. His idea was, that they would all be so frightened at having
+lost him, that when he did make his appearance, he would be received
+joyfully.
+
+Whether it was that the sound of the dinner-bell had created a
+sensation of hunger not to be resisted, or the savoury smell of the
+nicely cooked viands had stimulated the stomach to rebellion, we cannot
+say; but Freddy roused himself from his recumbent position, and, as we
+have seen, came (very unintentionally) head foremost down the steps.
+Alas, there is no one to sympathise with him in his self-made trouble,
+Aunt Mary won't permit it; and Master Frederick Ellis has to dine in the
+kitchen, a most humiliating necessity which would not have been
+submitted to, but for the inward cravings which would not be resisted.
+
+It was with the greatest satisfaction that Mr. Ellis, when he came home,
+heard of the kind proposal of his sister-in-law to take Freddy home with
+her; he said that he could never sufficiently thank her for the good she
+had done to Mabel, but he feared that Freddy would prove a more
+troublesome inmate to Oak Villa than ever she had been. Aunt Mary
+declared, however, to the great astonishment of Freddy, who was in the
+room at the time, that Oak Villa would not hold naughty people, whether
+they were men, women, or children; and that as soon as Fred had slept
+there one night, he would find himself quite another boy, and be ready
+to do anything that he was desired. Fred heard all this with
+'wonder-working eyes;' we don't know whether he really believed it. But
+as he trudged silently along by his aunt's side, with the little basket
+in one hand, and her hand clasping his other, he thought what a strange
+place Oak Villa must be to make people good, whether they liked it or
+not.
+
+Mr. Ellis wished very much to accompany his sister home, but she would
+not permit this.
+
+'How can you think that I want a protector when I have Fred with me,
+papa?' she inquired. 'I know very well,' she added, 'that we shall soon
+be the best friends in the world; and Freddy will take all the trouble
+off my hands of feeding cousin Clara's chickens while she is away.'
+
+I should have stated that Clara had gone on a short visit to her mamma.
+
+The reference to the chickens was an excellent stroke of policy of
+aunt's; she felt the small hand, which she held, tighten in hers, and an
+inward feeling of satisfaction came over her spirit, as she said within
+herself, 'Love is a constraining power.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+THE NEW INMATE OF OAK VILLA.
+
+
+And now a new sort of life began, both at Oak Villa, and at Camden
+Terrace.
+
+Mabel had promised her aunt (and she meant faithfully to fulfil that
+promise) to give what portion of the time she could spare from her
+attendance on mamma, to the lessons of her sister Julia, who was now far
+behind Mabel, and sadly needed a preceptress.
+
+Well and amicably the two girls worked together; though there were
+trials of temper at times, when Julia did not seem to make such progress
+as her youthful instructress had anticipated. This, however, was only a
+trifling matter; there was peace in the house, and papa came home, not
+to be burdened with complaints, by domestic irregularities, but to be
+solaced by the loving attentions of his two girls, and amused by the
+sententious sayings of little prudish Gertrude, or the high spirits and
+happy gleefulness of Willie.
+
+It was also a source of great comfort to him to know that Fred was in
+such good keeping; he could not doubt this, when he had practical proof
+before him daily, in the change that had been wrought in his eldest
+daughter. But how do they get on at Oak Villa, I wonder?
+
+Admirably, I must say, considering that this is Aunt Mary's first
+attempt at taming an embryo lord of the creation. Is she very severe? By
+no means! Fred finds, to his great surprise, that 'this nasty old thing'
+works by love! and he is positively so full of employment and
+enjoyment, that he has no time to think of himself or to give way to
+evil temper. It must be owned (for there was no miracle in the case)
+that kind Aunt Mary had determined to give up this week, while Clara was
+away, to the instruction, amusement, and management of the Camden
+Terrace rebel; and though no outward sign betrayed the good lady's
+inward trials, it really was a week of trial to her. But she had
+succeeded to a wonder, so far as outward appearance testified, and
+worthy Bridget, who, by her good-nature helped on the reformation,
+declared herself astonished to find Master Freddy such a different boy
+to what she expected.
+
+And so the weeks passed by. Fred still lived on at Oak Villa, a happy
+and a loving inmate. Clara had come home, and contributed not a little
+to Fred's enjoyment; they went out together to see all the poor people,
+and particularly the Simmons family, who were getting on very well, now
+that the father was recovered. Fred had a wheelbarrow and a nice box
+that Simmons had made him, and Clara and he worked away famously in the
+garden, weeding, or planting, or picking up stones. Aunt Mary says,
+'This is what we have been trying to do for you, dear Freddy. Weeding
+out the naughty bitter weeds, putting in seeds that we hope will spring
+up, and grow to be beautiful flowers, and picking up the stones, that
+the soil may look smooth, and show that it is well taken care of.'
+
+We must not forget the visits paid to dear mamma, twice a week, when
+that good lady was moved, even to tears, to see the great change, both
+in appearance and manner, that had taken place in her beloved child. She
+was much better, and the doctor thought that change of air would be the
+very best thing to restore her to health; but there were many things to
+be considered in the carrying out of such a proposal. Time may do
+wonders, but that time had not yet come; and we have travelled on a
+little too fast, I think, so we will go back to the first morning of
+Master Freddy's advent at Oak Villa. The first bell had rung, but
+Bridget was not satisfied to let the little boy's getting up depend on
+that, so she went and knocked at his door, and then peeped in.
+
+'Why, bless me, Master Fred, are you not up yet?' exclaimed the good
+woman in pretended surprise. 'Why, the sun has been up a long time, and
+the birds are a-singing; and the fowls I know are wanting their
+breakfast, so I hope you will not keep them waiting very long. You must
+wash yourself well, and dress yourself nicely, and brush your hair, for
+I know your aunt can't abide to see slovenly children.'
+
+After these instructions, Bridget made her exit; and Fred, the tiresome
+Fred, who when at home would only get up when he thought proper, jumped
+out of bed, put on his socks and shoes, performed his ablutions, and
+finished his dressing in a most satisfactory manner. Then he went down,
+and joined his aunt in the breakfast-room.
+
+'Well, my dear Fred,' said the kind lady, taking her nephew by the hand
+and kissing him, 'I hope you are no worse for your fall yesterday, and
+that you have had a good night's rest?'
+
+'Oh, I slept so well, aunt. It is such a nice little bed, I like it so
+much!'
+
+'And have you, my child,' said his aunt, 'thanked the good God who gave
+you sleep, and rest, and kind friends?'
+
+'I haven't said my prayers, aunt,' replied Freddy; 'I don't always say
+them.'
+
+'But you always wish to have kind friends, and a nice bed, and peaceful
+sleep, don't you, dear Fred?' said Aunt Mary.
+
+'Yes, aunt, I do,' replied the boy.
+
+'And don't you think you ought to be thankful when you have them?' was
+the next question.
+
+Freddy hung down his head, but he whispered 'Yes.'
+
+'Well, go then, my dear, and thank your heavenly Father for His
+goodness, and ask Him to bless you, and keep you from all evil to-day.'
+
+And Freddy went back to his room, and knelt beside his little bed, and
+repeated the same prayer that he had said so many times before, without
+thinking even of what he was saying; but this time he did think.
+
+After breakfast Fred went to feed the fowls, though this ought to have
+been done before; but this was a beginning, so it did not much matter.
+At ten o'clock he was called to his books, and Aunt Mary expected a
+trial, for Freddy had never been at school, and his teaching at home had
+been only such as he chose to receive from his mamma or his sisters,
+when he happened to be in the humour. Yet he was naturally a quick
+child, and but for temper, his aunt did not at all contemplate any
+difficulty; indeed, she had no reason to do so, with her method of
+teaching. She was never harsh, but she was strict in discipline. She
+knew, that to make children happy, it was not at all necessary that they
+should have their own way, though she never contradicted them without
+occasion. She, in short, treated them as reasonable creatures, as loving
+creatures, who required love to draw them out; and she had seen, and
+felt, the happy results of this treatment. After the first week there
+was no more trouble about lessons; and with the assistance of Bridget
+and Clara, who were both now really fond of the boy, and did many little
+things to contribute to his pleasure, Aunt Mary found that she need no
+longer have any dread of having taken into her happy domicile an
+inmate, who would destroy its hitherto peaceful character; and Fred
+never once expressed a wish to go and live at home again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+THE OAK AND THE LAUREL UNITED.
+
+
+More than four months had elapsed since Mabel had left Oak Villa to
+attend to her mamma, and Freddy had found a happy and delightful home in
+that very desirable locality. The days were shortening now, and the
+splendid autumn sunsets threw their gorgeous colouring over the trees,
+that had already put on their russet mantles, as if in anticipation of
+some great change. In human affairs it often happens that great changes
+come very unexpectedly, and so it occurred in the families with whom we
+have been the most familiar.
+
+It was the beginning of October, when Aunt Mary received a letter from
+her friend Mrs. Maitland which greatly surprised, and at first grieved
+her not a little. It contained the startling intelligence that Mr.
+Maitland wished to let their pretty homes, the Laurels, as the very
+precarious state of health Mrs. Maitland's mother was in, rendered it
+absolutely necessary that they should remain with her for perhaps a very
+long time.
+
+'Oh, Clara dear,' said her aunt, 'is not this sad news for us? I can
+scarcely believe it. Mrs. Maitland says they are not coming back; but
+are going to let the Laurels.
+
+'How we shall miss them all, I fear we shall never get such good
+neighbours again,' said the lady, in a much more dolorous tone than was
+usual with her.
+
+'Oh, I am so sorry!' exclaimed Clara, 'and so will Mabel be I know, for
+Dora and Annie were our very best friends. But who is that other letter
+from?' inquired the niece; 'I hope that does not contain bad news,
+aunt!'
+
+Miss Livesay took up the letter spoken of; she had been so taken by
+surprise with the information contained in the first letter, that she
+had almost forgotten the other, which she now opened, and a glad
+exclamation which she uttered on reading the first line convinced Clara
+that there was salve for the wound which had been inflicted.
+
+She was not kept in a state of suspense, the letter was from Irene (Mrs.
+Gordon), and the first line was: 'We are coming home to you, dear Mary!'
+
+'Oh, when, aunt, when?' cried Clara.
+
+'Wait, my dear, and you shall hear all,' replied Miss Livesay. '"Captain
+Gordon has got leave of absence for six months; will you, can you, dear
+Mary, let me come again to the dear old home? there is no place like
+it!" Dear Irene,' cried Aunt Mary, she little thinks how I long to see
+her, and the quick tears testified the melting heart.
+
+Freddy all this time had stood an amazed listener; he could not at all
+make it out why the breakfast should be delayed, but he remembered Aunt
+Irene, and Captain Gordon, too, and he could somewhat enter into the
+pleasure manifested at the idea of their coming to see them, only he
+wished, notwithstanding, that Aunt Mary would pour the tea out, and
+allow him to begin his breakfast. This was done almost mechanically by
+Aunt Mary, her mind was already so full of projects, which, however,
+must be explained some time hence.
+
+'Now the first thing we do, dear Clara, after breakfast,' said the kind
+aunt, 'must be to go to Camden Terrace; I hope your uncle will not have
+gone out, as I have a message for him from Mr. Maitland.'
+
+'Oh then, do let Freddy and me go at once,' entreated Clara; 'we can be
+so quick, and we can tell Uncle Ellis that you are coming immediately,
+so that you need not hurry yourself, dear aunt.'
+
+'Not a bad proposition, my little girl,' said her aunt; 'and Freddy, is
+he ready to go?'
+
+'Oh yes, I am quite ready, and we can run all the way, and we can tell
+mamma that Aunt Irene is coming to see her; won't she be pleased? and so
+will Mabel and Julia. Oh, I am so glad, and Fred gave a remarkable
+caper, which not only threw himself down, but _overthrew_ the gravity of
+both aunt and cousin, who laughed heartily at the grotesque way in which
+he exhibited his joy.
+
+'We won't say anything about Aunt Irene's letter till you come,'
+whispered Clara to her aunt, but that lady said:
+
+'Depend upon it, dear Clara, your mamma has got a letter, as well as
+myself, so this will be no news to her, though the Maitlands'
+communications will, and of this you need not say anything.'
+
+Mr. Ellis was just preparing to leave home when Clara and Fred made
+their appearance.
+
+'Why, you are early visitors this morning,' said that gentleman,
+kissing, and shaking hands with the fresh, healthy looking messengers,
+and adding; 'has the postman's news made you run off in such a hurry?'
+
+'Yes, it is the postman's news, uncle, that sent us here so soon,' said
+Clara, 'because Aunt Mary wants to see, and talk with you, before you go
+out; she will be here in less than half an hour, if you will kindly
+wait.'
+
+'That I will do with pleasure, my little girl, and you and Fred can go
+and find out mamma, and Mabel, and Julia, and Gertrude, and Willie, for
+I can hear them all making a noise; this news about Aunt Irene has
+caused a great commotion in the house,' said Mr. Ellis.
+
+Away ran Clara and Freddy, to find, as papa had said, a glad and rather
+noisy company in mamma's room. The invalid herself seeming evidently
+better for this piece of joyous excitement.
+
+We may well believe that the noise was not lessened in the room by the
+advent of Clara and Freddy; the latter having, since his departure from
+home, and the good accounts received of him from Aunt Mary, become
+somewhat of a hero in the estimation of the little people and even of
+his sisters. But here are other visitors, Aunt Mary and Mr. Ellis appear
+upon the scene, and they both stand for a moment in silent astonishment
+at the uproar that is made.
+
+'Well,' said Aunt Mary, after a moment's pause, 'this is not much like
+the chamber of an invalid; and yet you look wonderfully bright, my dear
+Ada,' she said to her sister, putting her arms round and kissing Mrs.
+Ellis, who was already up, and seated in her arm-chair.
+
+'Oh, I am so much better, dear Mary; Irene's letter has acted like a
+cordial to me this morning; of course _you_ have received one from her?'
+said Mrs. Ellis.
+
+'Yes; and I have also had one from our friend Mrs. Maitland, which, as
+it requires advice and consideration, will also require a little peace
+and quietness, so we had better dismiss the joyous young party; they can
+finish off, and talk over pleasant affairs, in the nursery. What do you
+say to this, my dears?' inquired Aunt Mary.
+
+'We all say yes, yes, aunt!' replied Mabel, catching up Willie, and
+making a speedy exit, followed by the whole troop of rejoicing spirits,
+who were not at all sorry to leave grave discussions to their seniors.
+
+'And now,' said Miss Livesay, after the young tribe had left the room,
+'let us proceed to business. I have had a letter this morning from our
+friends the Maitlands, and in it, a request from Mr. Maitland to you,
+dear brother, to help him in the letting of his house, as they do not
+intend to return.'
+
+'Oh, how I wish we could take the Laurels, Arthur!' said Mrs. Ellis,
+eagerly; 'it would be so delightful to be near dear Mary; the thought
+almost makes me well, I declare,' she continued, as the colour mounted
+to her pale cheeks.
+
+'It was the very idea that entered my head when I read the letter,' said
+Miss Livesay. 'I do think, dear Ada, that such a change of air and scene
+would be very beneficial to you; but, of course, it will require
+consideration, which, I know, your husband will give it.'
+
+'I don't think that we should find any difficulty in letting _this_
+house,' observed Mr. Ellis; 'and I assure you, I am as anxious for a
+change as my wife is; though the distance from my office will be
+greater, I should not mind that; I think we should all be greatly
+benefited in health. I will myself write to Mr. Maitland this very day,
+and run the risk of letting our own house, rather than lose such a
+golden opportunity.'
+
+My young readers, I dare say, know nothing about the troubles of a
+removal; I do, and I am not at all disposed to inflict details on them.
+All I have to say on the subject is, that matters were so speedily and
+amicably arranged, that the Laurels or Laurel Villa, received its new
+occupants before the month of November had commenced, and that so great
+an improvement had taken place in the health of Mrs. Ellis, as made the
+doctor, aye, and Aunt Mary too, suspect that the _nerves_ had received a
+great deal too much consideration, and that henceforth they were not to
+claim more than their due share. We may imagine how busy Mabel, and
+Clara, and Julia, and even Freddy had been; and, oh! what a comfort it
+was to all parties, that now, neither Laurel Villa, nor Oak Villa, would
+receive ill-conditioned men, women, or children, for did not the kind
+and benevolent fairy preside over both houses?
+
+Yes, she did; and I am bound to say that there was no opposition, for
+Aunt Mary's ways and doings had worked such wonders as disinterested
+love alone _can_ work, and her heart was filled with joy and
+thankfulness at the success achieved.
+
+Captain Gordon and Aunt Irene did not arrive in England so soon as had
+been expected, but they put in an appearance before Christmas, and were
+quite delighted with the change that had been made; and, oh! what a
+joyous party helped to make the splendid wreath for the decoration of
+Mr. Norton's church, at Christmas time; plenty of laurels, we know, they
+had close at hand, so that though there were other kind workers in this
+delightful employ, I think we may say that none excelled in design or
+quantity the productions of the two villas.
+
+Our former friend, Harry Maitland, was on a visit to Mr. Newlove, and
+not a day passed during the Christmas week in which there was not an
+interchange of visits with the young people; and when on Christmas Day
+they all assembled at church, I don't think there could have been in
+England a happier or more thankful family party than that which came
+from the intertwined _Oak and Laurel_!
+
+  '_Order_ is Heaven's first law!'
+
+But _Love_ is the elastic, all-embracing band, which, wreathed with
+amaranthine flowers, endures when time shall be no more!
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
+
+  The Story of a Mouse.
+  The Story of a Cat.
+  The Village School.
+  The Story of a Penny.
+  Our Poor Neighbours.
+  The Three Sisters.
+  Ellen and Frank.
+  The Twin Brothers.
+  Lilian Seacroft.
+
+
+BILLING AND SONS, PRINTERS AND ELECTROTYPERS, GUILDFORD.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT MARY***
+
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