to see that there
was a very sulky flush on his cheeks, and that he was complaining of
his father to his mother, whilst his father was not in the room.

"'Now, mamma,' said Bernard, 'do ask papa; it's a holiday, and a fine
day, and I want to go. And why can't I go? Papa is so cross.'

"'My dear, you can't go to L---- (that was the nearest town to
Rookdale) to-day,' replied his mother; 'your papa is too busy to ride
with you.'

"'Can't John go?' asked Bernard.

"'He is engaged also,' said Mrs. Low.

"'Can't Ralph go?' returned Bernard.

"'Ralph is too young to be trusted with your papa's horse,' said Mrs.
Low.

"'But I must go.'

"'But indeed you can't.'

"'I can walk. What's to hinder my walking?'

"'Now do be content, my dear--stay with your sister--she has nothing to
do but to be with you;' and thus the mother and son went on until Mr.
Low came in, and then Bernard became what Griffith would have called
glum, for Griffith used many odd words.

"There was no more said about going to L---- after Mr. Low came in; but
it was quite certain that Bernard's sour looks were not lost on his
father.

"When breakfast was over, Lucilla said:

"'Now, Bernard, come with me--I have a pleasure for you.' When she had
put on her bonnet she led him to her grotto, and showed him what she
had done already, and gave him the tools and some little bits of wood,
and said, 'Now you must make my hermit a table and a chair--he must
have a table; and whilst you make these I will finish his dress, and
fasten the flax on for his beard, and make him a rosary with beads.'

"Lucilla watched her brother's face whilst she showed him the things,
and told him what she hoped he would do; and she saw that he never
smiled once. Spoiled children sometimes laugh loud, but they smile very
little; they have generally very grave faces.

"When they had looked at the grotto, they went into the root-house;
there were seats round it, and a table in the middle. Lucilla sat down,
and pulled her needle and thread and beads and bits of silk and cloth
out of her basket; and Bernard sat down too with the tools and bits of
wood and board before him.

"He first took up one tool and then another, and examined them, and
called them over. There was a nail-passer, and a hammer, and a strong
knife, and one or two more things very useful to a young boy in making
toys, or anything else in a small way; in short, everything that was
safe for such a one to have. B