he would do so, for the animal
only destroys the beauty of the hedges, and endeavours to make ugly gaps
in them. It is not at all fit for the children to ride.' And they
proceeded in their walk.

As soon as his father and mother were gone, George threw himself upon
the carpet on his back, for he was very tired, very cross, and very
stiff.

'Oh dear, what a tiresome day this is!' said he, as he rolled over on
the carpet. 'I wish it was over and bedtime was come.'

'Why, you have done nothing but play all day,' said Ellen. Now Ellen
felt as brisk and as merry as she had done the very earliest part of the
morning, and could not help wondering what could be the matter with
George that he was not equally so.

'It is so hot--so very hot,' said George. The kind little Ellen took her
stool, and, standing on tiptoe, and reaching up to the top of the
blinds, at the risk of her neck, at length succeeded in pulling them
down, and prevented the sun from shining into George's eyes.

'Oh, how dark you have made the room, child,' said George.

'I thought you would like to have the sun shut out, George,' said the
affectionate little Ellen, with a tear starting into her eyes, because
George _would not_ be pleased with her.

George saw the tear, and was vexed with himself that he had caused it;
but at present he was not sufficiently subdued to say he was sorry, and
he continued to roll upon the carpet backwards and forwards, till he
rolled over against a small rose-wood cabinet which stood in one corner
of the apartment. The slender fabric shook, and down rolled a beautiful
little vase, which had been sent for Mrs. Danvers by a particular
friend, and on which both the children knew she set a great value.
George started up, and he and Ellen looked at each other. The vase was
broken into twenty pieces. Ellen burst into tears, and George looked
very sorrowful; but the vase was broken, and could not be restored. At
this moment the door was opened, and a little favourite terrier dog
bounded into the room, and began to play amongst the scattered
fragments. He was followed by a servant, from whom he had made his
escape, for she had been ordered to wash the dog, and the dog had
resisted, and ran away from the bath designed for him.

'Why, what a piece of work is here,' said the servant. 'Pompey, you
little tiresome thing; now to come bouncing in here, and making all this
mischief. What will mistress say when she sees her china broken, a