The Stokesley Secret

sentiment, that as he was already naughty and in disgrace, it was of no use to take the trouble of being good till he could make a fresh beginning; and after w

but he teased Nurse out of more cake and more, and got what play he could out of little Geo

ut Hal, after glancing over his own, took up his cap and said, "Come along

t done,"

e were to say them

" was all Sam's answ

dered him either to sit down and learn properly at once, or to go quite away. She was very much vexed, for Henry had been the most obliging and good-natured of all at first, and likely to be fond of her; but such a great talker could not fail to be weak, and his vanity had been set against her. He looked saucy at first,

, who had not learned the Collect at all, and was sent into another room to finish it,

tle ones and the baby. She minded it the less, as they all had some purpose; but she had already been vexed to find that all but Davy preferred the most arrant vacant idleness to anything rational. To be sure, Susan sometimes, Bessie and Hal always, would read any book

ntly she heard a voice so low that it seemed at a distance and it made her start, for it was saying "Christabel!" then she almost

are alone together?" she said

said Miss Fosbrook, laughing; "but don't do so, except when we a

" cried Bessie, clinging to her hand: "

ly, and she took Bessie in her lap, and they exchanged caresses, to th

call me silly

some arch fun; but Bessie had not muc

saw Ida G

es

you thin

portunity of learn

Did you think her mama very si

wore them at unsuitable times,

all. And she has shells, and such a lovely wor

u quite

and never bother about the schoolroom; but she learns Italian and German, and drawing and singing. Mr.

and if your Mamm

lets us go, exce

n wh

't help it. It did seem so tiresome here, and she said I was lea

of not breaking the

t to take things away from

t the end of the Duty to our Neighbou

see what Susie is d

d at having her repinings set before her in a graver light

hnnie with such a grimy collar and dirty hands, that he was a very un-Sunday-like figure, and she wo

Bessie was not in a gracious mood, and the corners of her mouth provoked the boys to begin on what they k

t something unpleasant was intended, and oth

the cocky-

explosion

's wit), shall I get a jay down off t

ed voice, that Sam, who had really held his

sparrow, for her

istabel good-humouredly. "A London

came to "Tomtits" and "Dishwashers," were so astonished at Miss Fosbrook's never having seen either, that they instantly fell into the greatest haste to finish their tea, and

ismal mood, and was taken with a fit of displeasure that her own Christabel Angela was foll

r stay in nor go out cheerfully, and sauntered along looking so piteous, that Johnnie could not help making her worse by plucking at her dress, by suddenly twisti

ound in a water-wagtail's nest in a heap of stones; how it sat up, constantly gaping with its huge mouth, while the poor little foster-parents toiled to their utmost to keep it supplied with caterpillars, and the last time it

tuffed in the British Museum, or alive at the Zoological Gardens, on the rare days when her father had time to give him

blooming grass of the wilderness, softly swaying in the breeze, all pale with its numerous chaffy blossoms, and var

th white blossoms and rosy buds; the climbing roses on the wall wer

ut peevishly pushing off John and Anne, thinking that they always teased her worst on Sundays, and very much dis

hat, can't she see those round black eyes and little beak? They see her plain enough. Ah! now she has them. That's a fly-catcher. By and b

she would have changed her Sunday muslin. But a look of anxiety came on Sam's face as he peeped into the clu

s Ralph b

suppose so. Not an egg left, and

s we should not get a currant or a gooseberry if it wasn't fo

am," cried Susan; "Geor

the tearing out the nest, and asked if the old bird would not have another brood there; but it was explained that a thrush would never return to a forsaken nest; and when Sam came down with it in his hand, she was delighted with the wonderful cup that formed the lining,

th torn sails, long sticks, battered watering-pots, and old garden tools. She was desired to look up to one of the openings in the ragged moss, and believe that it housed a kitty wren's family of sixteen or eighteen; but she had to take this o

or what he did-shouted, pushed, ordered, would be more like it. He was going to give Miss Fos

d Christabel followed him to the back of the summer-h

iss Fos

g wings, and something confused remaining,-a cluster of grey wings all quill, with gaping yellow mouths here and ther

phantly; "they've built their n

they get i

e. Take care, I'

frighten aw

the long skinny neck was bare, and the tiny quills of the young wings only showed a little grey sprouting feather, as did the breast some primrose-coloured down. Miss

th grey coat and bright straw-coloured waistcoat, with the broad jet-black line down the centre, the great white cheeks e

m. "You'll hear them going on p

and lamentable burst of roarin

, sobbing in the passionate way in which it is not good to see a child cry, and violently

as the

tty's n

nnie

nie o

w,

le!" "Cr

that Miss Fosb

tween her words, till Miss Fosbrook, insisting that everyb

hnnie calle

ence them with a frown, said it was very rude of John, but she saw

time!" cried Bessie. "They've been at me ever s

ou to walk in front of Miss F

anything to h

John

ck and poked her ankles

d you do what sh

ross. Anne hung her head; a

ll you, and now they said Ida was a conceited little toad,

d Miss Fosbrook, who had really grown quite angry. "Anne and Jo

And when they came up to the nursery, Nurse pitied them. She had never heard of a young lady doing such a thing as ordering off two poor dear children to bed for only just saying a word; but it see

table, and went and sat in a corner, wishing she had had her punishment p

talk to her. It was a way of hers, perhaps from being less strong t

, finding all in vain, she thought bed the only place for the child, and led her into the house, helped her, still shaking with sobs, to undress, and was going to see her lie down in the bed which she shared with Susan. Elizabet

he spirit of love, that she may bear patiently all the little trials that

men; she did not know if the governess were not taking a liberty. Perhaps it was a

illow, and as soon as Miss Fosbrook had shut the door, went off into a fresh gust of piteous s

o spirit to be cheerful, and had turned away from comfort of the right kind. She was in such a frame a

y were allowed to keep two of every sort as curiosities-and listened to some wonderful stories of Henry's about climbing

ght in his governess. Also, she feared to make too much of Elizabeth, and was almost afraid that notice taught her to be still more fretful. And yet there was a se

afraid of Miss Fosbrook making

ad already done at Bessie's bedside, and much more