Part 13 (1/2)

”It was only three bulls' eyes,” said Susan, following. ”You know he had nothing of his own, and it was so hard, and Annie gave him some.”

”And Nurse some,” added Hal. ”Trust Jackie for taking care of himself.” Well he might say so, considering how full were John's mouth, hands, and pockets.

”And Davie has had nothing!” said kind Susan. ”Here, Davie!” holding out to him an amber-like piece of barley-sugar.

”I don't want your stuff,” said David roughly. ”You've spent all away from the pig.”

”No, Davie, indeed, only twopence,” said Susan; ”pray have a bit.”

”You might at least say thank you,” said Miss Fosbrook.

But how difficult is that middle road which is the only right one!

David, being too much set on one single purpose, good though it was, could see nothing else. It was right and generous to abstain from sweets with this end in view; but it was wrong to be rude and unthankful to the sister who meant all so kindly, and was the most unselfish of all. She turned round to Elizabeth with the kind offer of the dainty she had not even tasted herself, but was not more graciously treated.

”How can you, Susie? it is all pulled about with your fingers.”

This was a matter on which the Misses and Masters Merrifield were not wont to be particular; and with one of the teasing laughs that Bessie hated, Sam exclaimed as Susan turned to him, ”Yes, thank you, Sukey, _I_ don't mind finger sauce,” but not before John was stretching out a hand glazed with sugar, and calling out, ”Oh, give it to me!” and as it disappeared in his brother's mouth, he burst out angrily, ”How cross, Sam! You did that on purpose!”

”Yes,” said Sam, ”I did; for though pigs on four legs are all very well, I don't like pigs on two.”

”Here, Jackie, never mind,” said Susan, seeing him about to begin to cry, and offering him her last sugar-plum.

”I don't want sugar-plums, I want barley-sugar,” said John devouring it nevertheless.

”I haven't one bit more,” said Susan regretfully.

”Have you had any yourself, Susan?” asked Sam.

”No; but I didn't want any.”

”Oh then, here Susie, I always keep a reserve,” said Henry. ”No, no, not you, Jack; I don't feed little pigs, whatever Susie does.”

And in spite of Susan, both the elder brothers set on John, teasing him about his greediness, till he burst out crying, and ran away to the nursery. Miss Fosbrook hated the teasing, but she thought it served John so rightly, that she would not save him from it; and she only interfered to remind the others that their fingers would bring them in for fines unless they were washed before tea.

”And how much have you spent?” reproachfully asked that rigid young judge, David; but all the answer he got was a pull by the hair from Hal, and ”Hollo, young one! am I to give my accounts to you?”

David gravely put up his hand and smoothed his ruffled locks, repeating, in his manful way, ”I want to know what you have left for the pig?”

Whereupon Hal laid hold of him, pulled him off the locker, and rolled him about on the floor like a puppy dog, crying, ”I'll tell you what, if you make such a work about it, I'll spend all my allowance, and not subscribe at all.”

”Sam!” cried the tormented David, and ”Sam!” cried the governess, really afraid the little boy would be hurt; but Sam only stood laughing with his back to the shutter, and Christabel herself hurried to the rescue, to pick Henry off his victim, holding an arm tight, while the child got up, and ran away to get his hair re-brushed for tea.

”Now, Hal, you might have hurt him,” argued the governess.

”Very good thing for him too,” said the brothers with one voice.

She was very much shocked; but when she thought it over she perceived that though Hal might be to blame, yet in the long run even this rough discipline might be more useful to her dear little David than being allowed to take upon him with his elder brothers, and grow conceited and interfering.

Miss Fosbrook was not surprised when, next morning, a frightful bellowing was heard instead of Johnnie being seen, and she learnt that Master John was in the hands of Nurse Freeman, who was administering to him a dose in consequence of his having been greatly indisposed all night. It must be confessed that Christabel was not very sorry to hear it, nor that Nurse would keep him to herself all day; for bad company as Johnnie had been on the week-days, he had been worse on the Sunday.