ve
as Norman was doing.

"You will arrange about his breakfast as you think best, Mary," she
said; "but I hope that if Susan is kind enough to attend to him, he will
be grateful to her. She is a faithful and excellent servant, and, of
course, will expect to be obeyed and treated with respect by a little
boy."

A peculiar shake of the head which Norman gave, showed that he had no
intention of following his grandmamma's wishes.

Captain Vallery coming in, no further remark on the subject was made.

Having saluted his mother-in-law and daughter, and given Norman an
affectionate pat on the head, he sat down to breakfast. Fanny having
given him a cup of tea, and helped him to an egg and toast, and offered
him other things on the table, he began to talk in his usual animated
way, so that Norman, who wanted to make a complaint against Susan in his
presence, was unable to get in a word. Fanny, who, guessing his
intentions, was on the watch, whenever she saw that he was about to
speak offered him a little more bread, or honey, or milk, anxiously
endeavouring to prevent him saying anything which she considered would
bring disgrace upon himself, by making his misconduct known. Happily
for her affectionate design, Captain Vallery had to go up to London, and
as soon as breakfast was over, kissing her and Norman, without listening
to the mutterings of the latter, he hurried off to catch the train.

CHAPTER TWO.

IN PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE.

A lady came every morning to teach Fanny, but Mrs Leslie had begged
that she might have a holiday in consequence of her papa's and mamma's
arrival, and that she might have more time to play with her little
brother.

Fanny had been anxiously considering how she could best amuse him.

"What should you like to do, Norman?" she asked, putting her arm
affectionately round his neck. "You see I am a girl, and perhaps I may
like many things that you will not care about. Let me consider. We can
arrange my doll's house, or we can play at paying visits; and I have two
battledores and a shuttlecock, which I will teach you how to use; and
then you must come out and help me to feed my chickens. I have also a
garden of my own, and I am sure granny will let you have a piece of
ground near it, or else you shall have part of mine, and you can learn
how to keep it neat and pretty. And whenever you like you can have a
game at romps with Trusty. You must make friends with him to-day; and
if you