d humour, and smart
as usual. Mr. Evans was in Mr. Low's place at the bottom; the boys on
each side.

"'Master Low,' said Miss Evans, as he came in, 'I hope you are well;
here we are, you see, in your papa's handsome room, and here is your
chair by me. I don't ask you to sit down, for who has such a right to
sit here as you have? Make room, Meekin. Surely there is room enough at
this large table? Sit a little lower, Griffith; and now, Master Low,
what shall we give you?'

"All that was proud and selfish in the heart of poor Bernard was awake
and busy long before Miss Evans had finished her speech. The boy looked
round the table for what he liked best; but instead of asking, told the
servant to take his plate for it, saying:

"'Don't give me fat, I don't like it.'

"'No fat for Master Low,' cried Miss Evans: and then again speaking to
the boy, 'You have a charming house here, Master Low; I had no notion
how good it was till I went over it this morning. I tell the young
gentlemen here that they must be very careful not to do mischief.'

"'They cannot do any, sister,' said Mr. Evans, 'if they keep to their
places. They must not go into the garden, there is abundant room for
them to play in elsewhere, and they shall have as much fruit as is good
for them. Mind, boys, on honour, no going into the garden. You shall
not need, for as Mr. Low kindly leaves us the use of the fruit, you
shall have your full share.'

"'You hear, young gentlemen,' said Miss Evans; 'Master Meekin, Master
Griffith, Master Price----'

"'And Master Low,' added Mr. Evans, 'you are, on honour, not to go into
the garden.'

"'Master Low!' repeated Miss Grizzy; 'Master Low not to go into his
papa's garden?'

"Mr. Evans never disputed with his sister before the boys, and not,
indeed, very often when alone with her, for he loved peace and
quietness, and she would always have many last words; so he said no
more; and she, tapping Bernard gently on the back, said, in a low
voice:

"'That would be hard, would not it, to keep you out of your dear papa's
own garden?'

"'I should think so,' answered Bernard, in the same low voice.

"This was only the beginning; and as Miss Grizzy went on as she had
begun, in setting up Bernard, and flattering him to the very utmost in
her power, there is much reason to fear that he was not likely to be
the better for being left with her.

"Griffith, with his friends Meekin and Price, would soon have given him
a les