,
touching her foot, she began to spin round and round, like the card of a
pocket compass on its point.

"The men performed a variety of other tricks, but those I have mentioned
are the most wonderful.

"Here was no room for deception, though many of the tricks performed by
Indian jugglers are really the result of clever sleight-of-hand."

"I think I would rather see the tricks which the conjuror did when we
went to the Egyptian Hall last year with granny," said Fanny; "I never
like to look at people who are doing things by which if they make a
mistake they may hurt themselves. I should not like to have seen
Blondin, and the other people we read of in the newspapers, who run
along tight ropes high up in the air."

"I should think them very foolish for their pains, and wish them a
better mode of gaining their livelihood," observed Mr Maclean, "and I
agree with Fanny. A sailor has to climb the rigging of his ship, but
then he goes in the way of duty, and when people mount in balloons, they
have generally a scientific object in view, or some reason to offer.
But in my opinion, the rest of the world should keep their feet on the
earth as long as they can."

Even Norman, was interested in this conversation, and declared that he
recollected the performances of the jugglers which his mamma spoke of.
He then described several scenes which he had witnessed in India, in a
very clear way.

"You have got a head on your shoulders, young gentleman," observed the
laird; "I only hope you have got your heart in its right place."

Mrs Leslie sighed, for she was afraid that her little grandson had been
so long allowed to have his own way, that though his heart might be in
its right place, as the common expression is, it was sadly choked up
with the bad seed of weeds, which were already beginning to sprout The
next day was rainy, and neither Fanny nor Norman could go out. He
behaved himself tolerably well in the drawing-room, but when they were
at play together, he ordered her about in his usual dictatorial manner,
and said several things which greatly tried her temper.

"Although he is so forward in many things, and talks so well, he is but
a little boy after all," she thought; "it is, however, easy to feel
amiable and good when I am not opposed, but I ought to try and be so,
notwithstanding all he says and does."

The following day was bright and fine, and as Sandy could not take them,
out in the boat, the laird asked Fanny