p his
rod, went off, accompanied by old Sandy, without him.

Norman walked about the grounds in a very ill-humour, wishing that he
had kept his agreement with his good-natured host. At last, growing
tired of his own company, he returned to the house, thinking that a game
of some sort or other, even with Fanny, would be better than being all
alone. She, supposing that he had gone off with the laird, did not
expect to see him, and having brought Pecksy down to the library, was
amusing herself by playing with her little favourite. Having collected
some crumbs after breakfast in a paper, she brought them with her, and
seating herself in a large arm-chair at the library table, placed the
cage by her side, and took Pecksy out of it. Having given him one or
two crumbs, she thought she would make him run round and round the
table, and then from one end to the other, so she placed the crumbs at
intervals round the edge, and then in a line down the centre.

"It would amuse granny to see Pecksy at my word of command hop round the
table, and then come back to me, and as she would not observe the
crumbs, she would wonder, till I told her how very obedient he has
become. But I would tell her directly afterwards, for I would not
really deceive her even in that way," Fanny said to herself.

Fanny, having placed the crumbs, was delighted to find how well her plan
succeeded, for as soon as Pecksy had picked up one crumb, seeing another
before him, he hopped forward and picked that up, and so on, till he had
gone round the whole circle.

Fanny had made him go through his performance once or twice, for she had
wisely put down very small crumbs indeed, so that his appetite was not
satisfied. Having placed Pecksy at the further end of the table where
she had left him a few crumbs to occupy his attention, she had just
resumed her seat, when, unperceived by her, Norman stole into the room.
A large book lay on a chair near him. On a sudden an evil thought
entered his mind. Pecksy was in his power, and he had an opportunity of
venting the ill-feeling he had long entertained against Fanny and her
little pet.

Taking up the book, he stole round behind a high-backed chair, which was
placed against the table. Fanny was so engaged with her bird that she
did not see him. Rising up suddenly with the book in his hands, the
cruel boy let it fall directly down on the little bird. Perhaps he was
scarcely aware of the fatal consequences of h