A Crooked Path | Page 6

suppressed childish laughter called Katherine
from her thoughts. She rose and opened the door quickly and softly.
"Hush, Cecil! be quiet, Charlie! poor grannie is asleep. Come with me
downstairs; I will read to you if you like."
"Oh yes, do," said Charlie.
"I don't care for reading," cried Cecil. "Can't you play bears?"
"It makes too much noise. I will play it to-morrow if grandmamma is
better. Shall I tell you a story?"
"No," said Cecil; "I will tell you one."
"Very well. I shall be delighted to hear it."
"I would rather have you read, auntie," said the little one.
"Never mind, Charlie; I will read to you after."
"Shall we sit in the garden? We have made it quite clean and tidy."
"No, dear; grannie would hear us there. Come into the dining-room."
Established there, the boys one on each side of her, Katherine listened
to the young story-teller, who began fluently: "There was once two
little boys called Jimmie and Frank. Frank was the biggest; he was very
strong and very courageous; and he learned his lessons very well when
he liked, but he did not always like. The two little boys had an aunt; she
was nice and pleasant sometimes, but more times she was cross and
disagreeable, and she spoiled Jimmie a great deal. One day they went
out to walk a long way, and saw lots of people riding, and Jimmmie
grew tired, and so did Frank, but Frank would not complain, and their
aunt was so unkind that she would not call a hansom; so when they

came to a great street Frank thought he would catch an omnibus, and he
ran out quick--quick. He would have caught it, but his aunt was so silly
and such a coward that she sent a man after him, who nearly dragged
him under the feet of a horse that was coming up, and they would both
have been killed if Frank had not called out to the cabman to stop."
"Oh, Cecil, that is you and I. What a story! Auntie is not unkind, and
you did not call out," cried Charlie.
Katherine could not help laughing at the little monkey's version of the
incident.
"Cecil, Cecil, you must learn to tell the truth--" she was beginning,
when the door was opened, and a small, slight lady in black silk, with a
profusion of delicate gray ribbons, jet trimming, and foamy white tulle
ruching, stood in the doorway. She was very fair, with light eyes, a soft
pink color, and pale golden brown hair--altogether daintily pretty.
"Oh, mammy! mammy! where have you been all my birthday?" cried
the elder boy, rushing to her.
"My own precious darling, do not put your dear dirty little paws on my
dress!" she exclaimed, in alarm. "I was obliged to go, my boy; but I
have brought you a bag of sweets; it is in the hall. Dear me! how stuffy
this room is! Mrs. Burnett's house is so cool and fresh! It looks into a
charming garden at the back; and oh, how delightful it must be to be
rich!" She had advanced into the room as she spoke, and began to untie
and smooth out her bonnet strings.
"It must indeed," returned Katherine, with a deep sigh.
"I will go and put on an old dress; this one is too pretty to spoil, and the
house is so dusty. Do you think it becoming, Katherine?"
"Yes, very"--with an indulgent smile. "You ought always to wear
half-mourning; it suits you admirably."
"I think it does; but I must put it off some day, you know. Cecil dear,

go and ask cook to make me a cup of tea. I will have it up in my room.
Charlie, don't cuddle up against your aunt in that way; it makes her too
hot, and you will grow crooked." Charlie jumped down from his chair
and held up his face.
"There, dear," giving a hasty kiss. "Don't worry."
"Mammy," said Cecil, with much solemnity, "I was nearly killed
to-day."
"Nonsense, dear! This is one of your wonderful inventions. What does
he mean, Katherine?"
"He might have been. He darted from me at Hyde Park Corner,
intending to catch an omnibus, and would have been run over if a
gentleman had not snatched him from under the horses' feet."
"My precious boy!" laying her hand on his head, but keeping him at a
distance. "How wrong of you, Katherine, to let his hand go!"
"I did not let it go; I was not holding it," returned Katherine, dryly.
"At Hyde Park Corner?" pursued Mrs. Frederic Liddell, eagerly. "Was
the gentleman soldierly and stout, with gray mustaches?"
"No. He was young and slight and clean-shaved."
"That is curious; for Colonel Ormonde was saying at