is grandmamma said. He might not
clearly have understood every word, but he certainly did her meaning;
and as she spoke so kindly and gently to him instead of scolding him, as
he thought she would, he thought he would try to do as she wished him.

The children were in their garden dresses; Norman's was much torn from
his scramble through the woods. Fanny had on one which her mamma had
brought from France, like that of a peasant girl, which was well suited
for wandering about the hills and moors.

After they had walked some time with their grandmamma, she desired them
to go in and dress, that they might be ready to receive their papa.
They were hurrying up to their rooms, when, as they passed the library
door, which was open, Fanny caught sight of her little pet's cage still
on the floor where she had left it.

"Oh, it must not remain there! what shall we do with it?" she said, as
she went in followed by Norman.

The sight of the empty cage was more than she could bear. She took it
up, and, looking at it for a moment, burst into tears. For some time
she stood with her arm resting on the table, supporting her head in her
hand.

"I did not think I should feel so much for poor, dear, little Pecksy,"
she said, trying to restrain her tears.

Norman stood by crying also. He could now sympathise with his sweet
sister; but a short time before he would have been inclined to laugh at
her tears, and "I did it; I did it," he said to himself. "Oh, how cruel
I was; I wish Mr Maclean had come at once, and heard all about it and
beat me, I am sure I deserve it; and the little bird, instead of singing
merrily in the cage, now lies in the black earth all by itself. Oh,
what a cruel, naughty boy I have been!" Such thoughts passed through
the mind of Norman though he did not speak them aloud. He rubbed his
eyes with the back of his hands, and looked up sorrowfully at his
sister.

At last Fanny recovered herself.

"I will carry the cage to granny," she said; "she will take care of it
till we can return it to old Alec, for I could never bear to see another
little bird in it."

Fanny felt this at the moment, but, probably, she would in time have
thought differently.

She took the cage to her grandmamma's room.

Norman stood outside while she went in.

Mrs Leslie promised to do what she wished, and she then went and
assisted Norman to dress. He made no resistance now, but let her wash
his face and hands as thoroughly a