partly
overgrown with weeds, which was at the farther end of the lane. When
they came near to this, Master Bennet whispered to his sister:

"'I'll see now if I can't spoil Miss Patty's smart silk slip.'

[Illustration: "_I'll see now if I can't spoil Miss Patty's smart silk
slip._"--Page 77.]

"'Do, Jack,' answered Miss Polly.

"Master Bennet then, winking at his sister, went up to the pond, and
pulling up some of the weeds, which were all wet and muddy, he threw
them at Miss Cartwright's slip, saying, at the same time:

"'There, Miss, there is a present for you.'

"But, as it happened, Miss Cartwright saw the weeds coming, and caught
them in her hand, and threw them from her. Upon this Master Bennet was
going to pluck more weeds, but Mr. Cartwright's maid-servant held his
hands, whilst little Billy and his sister ran forwards to Mrs.
Howard's house, which was just in sight, as fast as their feet would
carry them.

"'There, now,' said Miss Polly, 'those spiteful children have gone to
tell Mrs. Howard what you have done, brother, and we shall not get any
toys. You are always in mischief, that you are.'

"'I am sure you told me to throw the weeds,' answered Master Bennet.

"'I am sure I did not,' said Miss Polly.

"'But you knew that I was going to do it,' said he.

"'But I did not,' said she.

"'But you did, for I told you,' said he.

"In this manner this brother and sister went on scolding each other
till they came to Mrs. Howard's gate. There Miss Polly smoothed her
apron, and Master Jacky combed his hair with his pocket-comb, and they
walked hand-in-hand into Mrs. Howard's parlour as if nothing had
happened. They made a low bow and curtsey at the door, as their mamma
had bidden them; and Mrs. Howard received them very kindly, for Master
and Miss Cartwright had not mentioned a word of their ill-behaviour on
the road.

"Besides Master and Miss Cartwright, there were several other children
sitting in Mrs. Howard's parlour, waiting till dinner should be set on
the table. My mother was there," said Mrs. Goodriche--"she was then a
very little girl--and your grandmother and great-uncle, both young
ones; with many others now dead and gone. In one corner of the parlour
was a cupboard with glass doors, where Mrs. Howard had placed such of
those pretty toys (as I before spoke of) which she meant to give away
in the afternoon. The prettiest of these was the jointed doll, neatly
dressed in a green satin slip, an