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scream； ran to the other side of me； and made a face at him。
'Surely； Tom； you would not strike your sister！ I hope I shall NEVER
see you do that。'
'You will sometimes： I'm obliged to do it now and then to keep her in
order。'
'But it is not your business to keep her in order； you know … that is for …
'
'Well； now go and put on your bonnet。'
'I don't know … it is so very cloudy and cold； it seems likely to rain； …
and you know I have had a long drive。'
'No matter … you MUST come； I shall allow of no excuses；' replied the
consequential little gentleman。 And； as it was the first day of our
acquaintance； I thought I might as well indulge him。 It was too cold for
Mary Ann to venture； so she stayed with her mamma； to the great relief of
her brother； who liked to have me all to himself。
The garden was a large one； and tastefully laid out； besides several
splendid dahlias； there were some other fine flowers still in bloom： but
my companion would not give me time to examine them： I must go with
him； across the wet grass； to a remote sequestered corner； the most
important place in the grounds； because it contained HIS garden。 There
were two round beds； stocked with a variety of plants。 In one there was a
pretty little rose…tree。 I paused to admire its lovely blossoms。
'Oh； never mind that！' said he； contemptuously。 'That's only MARY
ANN'S garden； look； THIS is mine。'
After I had observed every flower； and listened to a disquisition on
every plant； I was permitted to depart； but first； with great pomp； he
plucked a polyanthus and presented it to me； as one conferring a
prodigious favour。 I observed； on the grass about his garden； certain
apparatus of sticks and corn； and asked what they were。
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'Traps for birds。'
'Why do you catch them？'
'Papa says they do harm。'
'And what do you do with them when you catch them？'
'Different things。 Sometimes I give them to the cat； sometimes I cut
them in pieces with my penknife； but the next； I mean to roast alive。'
'And why do you mean to do such a horrible thing？'
'For two reasons： first； to see how long it will live … and then； to see
what it will taste like。'
'But don't you know it is extremely wicked to do such things？
Remember； the birds can feel as well as you； and think； how would you
like it yourself？'
'Oh； that's nothing！ I'm not a bird； and I can't feel what I do to them。'
'But you will have to feel it some time； Tom： you have heard where
wicked people go to when they die； and if you don't leave off torturing
innocent birds； remember； you will have to go there； and suffer just what
you have made them suffer。'
'Oh； pooh！ I shan't。 Papa knows how I treat them； and he never
blames me for it： he says it is just what HE used to do when HE was a
boy。 Last summer； he gave me a nest full of young sparrows； and he saw
me pulling off their legs and wings； and heads； and never said anything；
except that they were nasty things； and I must not let them soil my trousers：
end Uncle Robson was there too； and he laughed； and said I was a fine
boy。'
'But what would your mamma say？'
'Oh； she doesn't care！ she says it's a pity to kill the pretty singing birds；
but the naughty sparrows； and mice； and rats； I may do what I like with。
So now； Miss Grey； you see it is NOT wicked。'
'I still think it is； Tom； and perhaps your papa and mamma would think
so too； if they thought much about it。 However；' I internally added； 'they
may say what they please； but I am determined you shall do nothing of the
kind； as long as I have power to prevent it。'
He next took me across the lawn to see his mole…traps； and then into
the stack…yard to see his weasel…traps： one of which； to his great joy；
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contained a dead weasel； and then into the stable to see； not the fine
carriage…horses； but a little rough colt； which he informed me had been
bred on purpose for him； and he was to ride it as soon as it was properly
trained。 I tried to amuse the little fellow； and listened to all his chatter as
complacently as I could； for I thought if he had any affections at all； I
would endeavour to win them； and then； in time； I might be able to show
him the error of his ways： but I looked in vain for that generous； noble
spirit his mother talked of； though I could see he was not without a certain
degree of quickness and penetration； when he chose to exert it。
When we re…entered the house it was nearly tea…time。 Master Tom
told me that； as papa was from home； he and I and Mary Ann were to have
tea with mamma； for a treat； for； on such occasions； she always dined at
luncheon…time with them； instead of at six o'clock。 Soon after tea； Mary
Ann went to bed； but Tom favoured us with his company and conversation
till eight。 After he was gone； Mrs。 Bloomfield further enlightened me on
the subject of her children's dispositions and acquirements； and on what
they were to learn； and how they were to be managed； and cautioned me to
mention their defects to no one but herself。 My mother had warned me
before to mention them as little as possible to HER； for people did not like
to be told of their children's faults； and so I concluded I was to keep
silence on them altogether。 About half…past nine； Mrs。 Bloomfield
invited me to partake of a frugal supper of cold meat and bread。 I was
glad when that was over； and she took her bedroom candlestick and retired
to rest； for though I wished to be pleased with her； her company was
extremely irksome to me； and I could not help feeling that she was cold；
grave； and forbidding … the very opposite of the kind； warm…hearted
matron my hopes had depicted her to be。
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CHAPTER III … A FEW MORE
LESSONS
I ROSE next morn