sed eyes and dripping hair.

CHAPTER IX.

With all her faults, Queen Bee was a good-natured, generous little
thing, and it was not what every one would have done, when, as soon as
she returned from Church, she followed her father to the study, saying,
"Papa, you must not be displeased with Fred, for he was very much
plagued, and he only had just begun when you came."

"The other boys had been teasing him?"

"Dick had been laughing at him, saying his mamma would not let him go on
the ice, and that, you know, was past all bearing. And honestly, it was
my fault too; I laughed, not at that joke, of course, for it was only
worthy of Dick himself, but at poor Fred's own disconsolate looks."

"Was not his case unpleasant enough, without your making it worse?"

"Of course, papa, I ought to have been more considerate, but you know
how easily I am run away with by high spirits."

"And I know you have the power to restrain them, Beatrice. You have no
right to talk of being run away with, as if you were helpless."

"I know it is very wrong; I often think I will check myself, but
there are many speeches which, when once they come to my lips, are
irresistible, or seem so. However, I will not try to justify myself; I
know I was to blame, only you must not be angry with Fred, for it really
did seem rather unreasonable to keep him there parading about with
Henrietta and Jessie, when the ice was quite safe for everybody else."

"I am not angry with him, Bee; I cannot but be sorry that he gave way
to the temptation, but there was so much to excuse him, that I shall not
show any further displeasure. He is often in a very vexatious position
for a boy of his age. I can imagine nothing more galling than these
restraints."

"And cannot you--" said Beatrice, stopping short.

"Speak to your aunt? I will not make her miserable. Anything she thinks
right she will do, at whatever cost to herself, and for that very
reason I will not interfere. It is a great deal better for Fred that
his amusement should be sacrificed to her peace, than her peace to his
amusement."

"Yet surely this cannot go on for life," said Beatrice, as if she was
half afraid to hazard the remark.

"Never mind the future. She will grow more used to the other boys, and
gain more confidence in Fred. Things will right themselves, if we do
not set them wrong. And now, mark me. You are not a mere child, who can
plead the excuse of thoughtlessness for leading h