Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 7

l, rushed at once to Lucy, who was standing by her mother's knee. Certainly the contrast between the cou

ker than her curls, to match her hazel eyes, which looked up with shy pleasure at Maggie, taller by the head, though scarcely a year older. Maggie always looked at Lucy with delight. She was fond of fancying a world where t

ssing her, "you'll stay with Tom an

"How do you do?" to all those aunts and uncles. He stood looking at nothing in particular, with the blushing, awkward air and semi-smile which are commo

r, as soon as this point of Lucy's staying was settled, "go and get your hair b

gie, pulling his sleeve as she passed

ed, when they were outside the door. "The

re dinner," said Tom, whose imagination w

is time for thi

room, and saw her go at once to a drawer, fro

gie?" said Tom, feeling

nt locks and cutting them straight

catch it!" exclaimed Tom; "you

was speaking, and he couldn't help feeling it

said Maggie, excited by her own dar

ing his head in an admonitory manner, and h

ie, giving a little stamp with her

he satisfaction of making a pair of shears meet through a duly resisting mass of hair. One delicious grinding snip, and then another and another, and the hinder locks fell

aughed, "Oh, my buttons! what a queer thing you look! Look at yourself in

this very decided course of action; she didn't want her hair to look pretty,-that was out of the question,-she only wanted people to think her a clever little girl, and not to find fault with her. But now, when Tom began to l

to go down to dinner dire

a passionate tone, with an outburst of ang

did you cut it off for, then? I shall g

the thing was done, that it was very foolish, and that she should have to hear and think more about her hair than ever; for Maggie rushed to her deeds with passionate impulse

id Kezia, entering the room hurriedly. "Lawks! wha

said Maggie, ang

; your mother says so," said Kezia, going up to Maggie

ny dinner," said Maggie, resisti

ve got to wait at dinner,"

ter, "why don't you come and have your dinner? There's lots o' goodies, an

een crying on the floor, Maggie would have cried, too. And there

ot feel that Maggie's grief spoiled his prospect of the sweets; but he

I bring you a bit o' pudding when I'v

beginning to feel life

at the door and said, "But you'd better come, you know.

. His good nature had taken off the keenest edge of her sufferings,

of the dining-parlor door, peeping in when it was ajar. She saw Tom and Lucy with an empty chair between them, and there were the custards on a side

the tablecloth. For Kezia had not betrayed the reason of Maggie's refusal to come down, not liking to give her mistress a shock in the moment of carving, and Mrs

as her own, and Maggie's cheeks and ears began to burn, while

I don't know her. Is it some little gel

iver in an undertone to Mr. Deane, laughing with much enj

," said uncle Pullet, and perhaps he never in his life

proof. "Little gells as cut their own hair should be whipped and fed o

this denunciation, "she must be sent to jail, I think, and the

e; "it's very bad luck, sister, as the gell should be so brown; the bo

k her mother's heart," said Mrs. T

recent appearance of the pudding and custard. Under this impression, he whispered, "Oh, my! Maggie, I told you you'd catch it." He meant to be friendly, but Maggie felt convinced that Tom was rejoicing

s arm round her, "never mind; you was i' the right to cut it of

ather "took her part"; she kept them in her heart, and thought of them long years

e their nuts and wine in the summerhouse, since the day was so mild; and they scampered out among th