about not helping me in the hard part; but when I had
driven in the sticks by leaning on them with all my weight, and had
put in bits of brushwood where the moss fell out and Philip laughed at
me, and, in short, when the moss-house was beginning to look quite
real, Philip was very anxious to work at it, and wanted the hatchet.

"You wouldn't help me over the hard work," said I, "so I shan't give
it you now; I'll make my moss-house myself."

"No, you won't," said Philip.

"Yes, I shall," said I.

"No, you won't," he reiterated; "for I shall pull it down as fast as
you build it."

"You'd better not," I threatened.

Just then we were called in to dinner. I hid the hatchet, and Philip
said no more; but he got out before me, and when I returned to work I
found that the moss-house walls, which had cost me so much labour,
were pulled to pieces and scattered about the shrubbery. Philip was
not to be seen.

My heart had been so set upon my project that at first I could only
feel the overwhelming disappointment. I was not a child who often
cried, but I burst into tears.

I was sobbing my hardest when Philip sprang upon me in triumph, and
laughing at my distress.

"I kept my promise," said he, tossing his head, "and I'll go on doing
it."

I am sure those shocks of fury which seize one like a fit must be a
devil possessing one. In an instant my eyes were as dry as the desert
in a hot wind, and my head reeling with passion. I ran to the
hatchet, and came back brandishing it.

"If you touch one stake or bit of moss of mine again," said I, "I'll
throw my hatchet at your head. I can keep promises too."

My intention was only to frighten him. I relied on his not daring to
brave such a threat; unhappily he relied on my not daring to carry it
out. He took up some of my moss and threw it at me by way of reply.

I flung the hatchet!--

My Aunt Isobel has a splendid figure, with such grace and power as one
might expect from her strong health and ready mind. I had not seen her
at the moment, for I was blind with passion, nor had Philip, for his
back was turned towards her. I did not see distinctly how she watched,
as one watches for a ball, and caught the hatchet within a yard of
Philip's head.

My Aunt Isobel has a temper much like the temper of the rest of the
family. When she had caught it in her left hand she turned round and
boxed my ears with her right hand till I could see less than ever. (I
believe she suffered fo