ence, it was not likely that she would ever thus test his regard.
I must say that Miss Katty ran a very great chance of being spoiled
between Uncle Boz and Aunt Deborah and Bambo, in spite of the wise saws
about training children to which Uncle Boz continually gave utterance.
"The little lady mustn't have her way, or mustn't do that thing," he was
continually saying; but the little lady notwithstanding had her way, and
did the very thing she wished. However, Aunt Deborah, with her watchful
care, though loving the little creature as much as any one, managed
quietly to correct the faults which would undoubtedly otherwise have
sprung up in her character, and deeply grateful some one is to her for
so doing. However, of that more anon. She was, of course, rather a pet
than a playmate of us youngsters; but even the least sentimental among
us considered her infinitely superior to any dog, even though he could
have danced a hornpipe, or monkey, however full of tricks, or parrot,
however talkative, which could have been provided for that purpose. As
Aunt Deborah was not much addicted to rapid locomotion, nor accustomed
to walk to any distance, Katty was her constant companion. Indeed, as
we were out all day shooting, or fishing, or boating, with Uncle Boz or
Bambo, we saw her, except on Sundays, only in the morning and evening.
When by any chance Aunt Deborah was unable to go out with her, my
brother Jack was always ready to take her place; and certainly no mother
could have watched over the little creature with more gentle care. It
happened that Aunt Deborah had caught a cold, and was compelled to keep
the house; the rest of us were going out trout-fishing with Uncle Boz;
but Jack made excuses for remaining behind, wishing, in fact, to offer
his services to take Katty a walk, or perhaps a row in our boat, if
Bambo could be spared to accompany him; if not, he proposed asking one
of the fishermen from the village, should any be found sauntering about
on the beach. As it happened, Bambo could not go; but Jack did not mind
that, as he knew that Bill Cockle would be ready to accompany him. We
left him working away at a vessel he was rigging, and waiting patiently
till the afternoon, when Aunt Deborah would let Katty go out with him.
We had a capital day's sport. Uncle Boz caught ten brace of trout, I
killed five, and the rest not many less. We took our dinner with us,
and discussed it sitting on a green bank, under the shade