me not to tell.
Indeed, Anderson would have boxed my ears for hearing, when I could not
help it."

"But Harry would not let him?"

"Ay. Harry is quite a match for Harvey Anderson, though he is so much
younger; and he said he would not have me bullied."

"That's a good Harry! But I wish he would not go out shooting!" said
Mary.

"Mind, you don't tell."

"And where's Hector Ernescliffe? Would not he go?"

"No. I like Hector. He did not choose to go, though Anderson teased him,
and said he was a poor Scot, and his brother didn't allow him tin enough
to buy powder and shot. If Harry would have stayed at home, he would
have come up here, and we might have had some fun in the garden."

"I wish he would. We never have any fun now," said Mary; "but oh! there
he is," as she spied Hector peeping over the gate which led from the
field into the garden. It was the first time that he had been to Dr.
May's since his brother's departure, and he was rather shy, but the
joyful welcome of Mary and Tom took off all reluctance, and they claimed
him for a good game at play in the wood-house. Mary ran upstairs to beg
to be excused the formal walk, and, luckily for her, Miss Winter was
in Margaret's room. Margaret asked if it was very wet and dirty, and
hearing "not very," gave gracious permission, and off went Mary and
Blanche to construct some curious specimens of pottery, under the
superintendence of Hector and Tom. There was a certain ditch where
yellow mud was attainable, whereof the happy children concocted marbles
and vases, which underwent a preparatory baking in the boys' pockets,
that they might not crack in the nursery fire. Margaret only stipulated
that her sisters should be well fenced in brown holland, and when Miss
Winter looked grave, said, "Poor things, a little thorough play will do
them a great deal of good."

Miss Winter could not see the good of groping in the dirt; and Margaret
perceived that it would be one of her difficulties to know how to
follow out her mother's views for the children, without vexing the good
governess by not deferring to her.

In the meantime, Norman had disconsolately returned to his Euripides,
and Ethel, who wanted to stay with him and look out his words, was
ordered out by Miss Winter, because she had spent all yesterday indoors.
Miss Winter was going to stay with Margaret, and Ethel and Flora coaxed
Norman to come with them, "just one mile on the turnpike road and back
again; he woul