evening, and I daresay he will do mine at
the same time, until after that we had better not look at it."

Susan guessed pretty correctly what had happened, but as Fanny had
begged her not to ask questions, she refrained for her sake from doing
so.

Fanny was going up to Norman to lead him towards the house, but he hung
back, so Susan took him by the arm.

"Come along, young gentleman," she said in the stern voice she knew how
to assume, "you will require to wash your hands well after your
gardening," and she pointed back at the ground he had upturned. "Are
you not ashamed of yourself?" she whispered. Fanny had run on a little
way lest Susan should again ask questions. "If you are not ashamed you
ought to be," continued Susan, "your sweet sister is an angel, and I
should like you just to ask yourself what you are."

Norman though he threatened Susan behind her back stood in considerable
awe of her in her presence, he therefore did not venture to reply, but
as he hung somewhat behind her as she led him on, he made faces at her,
which he knew she could not see.

Having washed his hands and brushed his hair she conducted him to the
dining-room.

"Many a worse boy deserves his dinner more than you do," she whispered,
stopping before she took him in. "Eat yours with what appetite you can,
but let me advise you to try and be sorry for the ungrateful way you
have treated your sister, who has been so kind to you since you came
into the house."

Norman snatched his hand away from her, and with a glum countenance
entered the dining-room. Walking up to the table he took his seat
eyeing Fanny, who he suspected, judging by himself, had been telling
their grandmamma and mamma what he had done. She, however, had not said
a word about the matter. They were merely looking at him, wondering
what made his countenance so sullen.

"I hope you have had a happy morning, Norman," said his grandmamma, as
she offered him some minced beef.

He made no reply.

"My dear, pray answer your grandmamma," said Mrs Vallery, for she had
been directed never to order Norman to do anything.

Still he did not speak.

"My dear child do let me entreat you to make use of your tongue, your
grandmamma spoke to you and asked if you had had a happy morning."

"I never am happy, and am not likely to be with no one to try and amuse
me," growled out Norman.

"I am sure that your sister wishes to amuse you," observed Mrs Leslie,
"and I shall be