ling at the lack of good things. The
table was not very tempting, certainly; the cloth looked as if it
had been flung on, the china was much chipped and battered, the tea
was very weak, and there was nothing to eat but great thick slices
of bread and butter. Still, it was the usual tea, and everyone
seemed surprised at Pip's outburst.

"My father and Esther" (they all called their young stepmother
by her Christian name) "are having roast fowl, three vegetables,
and four kinds of pudding," he said angrily; "it isn't fair!"

"But we had dinner at one o'clock, Pip, and yours is saved as
usual," said Meg, pouring out tea with a lavish allowance of hot
water and sugar.

"Boiled mutton and carrots and rice pudding!" returned her brother
witheringly. "Why shouldn't we have roast fowl and custard and
things?"

"Yes, why shouldn't we?" echoed little greedy Bunty; his eyes
lighting up.

"What a lot it would take for all of us!" said Meg, cheerfully
attacking the bread loaf.

"We're only children--let us be thankful for this nice thick bread
and this abundance of melting butter," said Judy, in a good little
tone.

Pip pushed his chair back from the table.

"I'm going down to ask for some roast fowl," he said, with a look
of determination in his eyes. "I can't forget the smell of it,
and they'd got a lot on the table--I peeped in the door."

He took up his plate and proceeded downstairs, returning presently,
to the surprise of everyone, with quite a large portion on his plate.

"He couldn't very well refuse," he chuckled. "Colonel Bryant
is there; but he looked a bit mad here, Fizz, I'll go you halves."

Judy pushed up her plate eagerly at this unusually magnanimous
offer, and received a very small division, a fifth part, perhaps,
with great gratitude.

"I just LOVE fowl," said Nell longingly; "I've a great mind to go
down and ask for a wing--I believe he'd give it to me."

These disrespectful children, as I am afraid you will have noticed,
always alluded to their father as "he."

Nell took up another plate, and departed slowly to the lower
regions. She followed into the dining-room at the heels of the
housemaid, and stood by the side of her father, her plate well
behind her.

"Well, my little maid, won't you shake hands with me? What is
your name?" said Colonel Bryant, tapping her cheek playfully.

Nell looked up with shy, lovely eyes.

"Elinor Woolcot, but they call me Nell," she said, holding out