to do
with it.

On this, instead of making a direct reply, he exclaimed, looking very
red and indignant, "I told them it was no use at all my coming, and now
you see it isn't. They thaid they wouldn't come unless I did. If you
thought I should be rude, you might make me stop at school all the
holidays, or at old Tikey's; I shouldn't thay a word."

Emily's hand was on the boy's shoulder as he knelt before the case.
Surely she understood what he meant; but if so, where could he possibly
have acquired the knowledge he seemed to possess? And even then he was
the last person from whom she could have expected this blunt,
embarrassed, promise of fealty.

The girls entered, and the two little ones. Emily met them, and while
she gave each a kiss, Johnnie started up, and with a great war-whoop of
defiance to his sisters, burst through the open window, and blushing
hotly fled away.

Much the same thing over again. The girls were all in their best; they
generally loved to parade the crofts and gardens clad in brown holland
and shaded by flapping hats. The children scorned gloves and all fine
clothes as much as they did the carriage; and here they were--little
Hugh in his velvet suit, looking so fair and bright-haired; Anastasia
dressed out in ribbons, and with a very large bouquet of hothouse
flowers in her hand. The girls pushed her forward.

"It's for you," said the little girl, "and isn't it a grand one! And my
love, and we're come to call."

"Thank you, my sweet," said Emily, accepting the bouquet, "I never saw
such a beauty!" She was sitting on a sofa, and her young guests were all
standing before her. She observed that little Hugh looked very sulky
indeed. "It's extremely unfair," he presently burst out, "they made Swan
cut the best flowers in the houses, and they gave them all to Nancy to
give, and I haven't got _none_."

Barbara whispered to him, trying to soothe his outraged feelings, but he
kept her off with his elbow till Emily drew him near, and observed that
it was not her birthday, and therefore that one present was surely
enough.

Barbara replied that Hughie had brought a present, but he was very cross
because it was not so pretty as Anastasia's.

"Yes, I've brought this," said Hugh, his countenance clearing a little
as he opened his small gloved hand, and disclosed a very bright
five-shilling piece. "It's not so pretty, though, as Nannie's."

"But it will last much longer," said Emily; "and so you meant