would not go--if
he did go, what he should say. Fanny again urged him to go at once.

"If you do not, I must, as I cannot stay longer away from the
drawing-room," she said.

Norman at last made up his mind to go. He approached the drawing-room
door, but stood outside before he could venture to turn the handle.

"I wish I had not killed that bird," he again said to himself. "It did
me no harm, and Fanny does not treat me as I thought she would, and as I
should have treated her if she had killed a bird of mine which I was
fond of. I should have flown at her, and kicked her, and scolded at her
day after day, and do not think I should ever have forgiven her; but she
does not even say a word to me, and tries to think that I did not wish
to hurt the bird. I knew well enough that big book would kill the
little creature, and I tried to make it fall just on the top of it. I
know I did; and all because I was angry with Fanny, and that little
Robby, and his grandfather who gave her the bird. I only wish that they
all would be very angry. It would be better than treating me as Fanny
has done."

At last Norman put his hand on the door handle. He turned it, and
entering, walked forward till he stood before the three ladies, who were
seated at their work.

"Well, Norman, what brings you here? We thought you were out fishing
with the laird," said his granny, looking up from under her spectacles.

"I have been and thrown a book on Fanny's bird, and it's dead. She
asked me to come and tell you," said Norman in a gruff voice; "and,
granny, she wants you to go to her. I wish I had not done it, that's
all I have got to say."

Having uttered these words he stood stock still, as if he was ready to
receive any scoldings the ladies might think fit to administer.

"You have killed Fanny's bird!" exclaimed Mrs Leslie and his mamma.
"What, could make you do that?"

"I don't know, I wish I hadn't; but I am not going to say any more,"
answered Norman.

"I will go to poor Fanny and try to comfort her, if the bird is really
dead," said Mrs Leslie rising.

"Norman, come here," said his mamma, as soon as his granny had left the
room. "If you have really killed Fanny's bird on purpose, you have done
a cruel thing. We are expecting your papa here this afternoon. When he
hears of it, he will, I am sure, be very angry, and will punish you as
he did the other day, before we left home."

"I do not mind if he does," said Norman.