me to
him. Instead of doing that, he allowed them to remain and to grow and
grow, and a bad thought, however small it may appear at first, must
always grow till it becomes so great, that it makes a slave of the
person who allows it to spring up within him.

Poor Fanny had no idea of the harm which her brother was meditating
against her and her bird, nor indeed had any one else at table. After
dinner, the whole party went into the grounds. The kind-hearted laird
was sorry to see Norman looking so dull.

"He is a manly little fellow, and ought to have boy companions. I will
do what I can to amuse him," he thought. "Come along, Norman, with me,
and we will try to find something to do." The laird kindly took him by
the hand, and led him along.

"When I am old enough, papa promises to give me a gun, that I may go out
and shoot tigers," said Norman. "Have you got any tigers here?"

"No, I am glad to say we have not. We should find them very
troublesome, as they would commit great havoc among our sheep and
cattle, and perhaps carry off the little boys and girls on their way to
school as well as grown-up people."

"We have plenty of tigers in India, and I think it a much finer country
than England on that account," remarked Norman in a contemptuous tone.

Mr Maclean laughed and replied--

"There were once wolves in the wilder parts of the country, but they
have long since been killed, because they did so much mischief. The
only large animals which now remain in a wild state, are deer, and they
belong to the proprietors of the land, so that those alone to whom they
give permission may shoot them."

"But have you not got some deer?" asked Norman, "I should so like to see
you shoot one."

"My days for deer-stalking are over," answered the laird. "There are a
few on my estate, but I do not allow them to be shot. They are
beautiful creatures, and I like to see them bounding across the hills
and moors, and enjoying the existence God has given them."

"I should like to shoot one though," said Norman, giving his head a
shake in an independent way. "Won't you lend me your gun."

"A gun would tumble you over oftener than you could bring down a deer,
laddie," answered the laird, laughing heartily. "As you are so
determined to be a sportsman you shall come with me on the loch this
evening, and we will try and catch some fish, only you must promise me
not to fall overboard again."

"I will take good care not to d