Elsie Dinsmore | Page 2

of that time Arthur sprang up, and flinging his book across the
room, exclaimed, "There! I know my lesson; and if I didn't, I shouldn't
study another bit for old Day, or Night either."
"Do be quiet, Arthur," said his sister Louise; "I can't study in such a
racket."
Arthur stole on tiptoe across the room, and coming up behind Elsie,
tickled the back of her neck with a feather.
She started, saying in a pleading tone, "Please, Arthur, don't."
"It pleases me to do," he said, repeating the experiment.
Elsie changed her position, saying in the same gentle, persuasive tone,
"O Arthur! please let me alone, or I never shall be able to do this
example."
"What! all this time on one example! you ought to be ashamed. Why, I
could have done it half a dozen times over."
"I have been over and over it," replied the little girl in a tone of
despondency, "and still there are two figures that will not come right."
"How do you know they are not right, little puss?" shaking her curls as
he spoke.

"Oh! please, Arthur, don't pull my hair. I have the answer--that's the
way I know."
"Well, then, why don't you just set the figures down. I would."
"Oh! no, indeed; that would not be honest."
"Pooh! nonsense! nobody would be the wiser, nor the poorer."
"No, but it would be just like telling a lie. But I can never get it right
while you are bothering me so," said Elsie, laying her slate aside in
despair. Then taking out her geography, she began studying most
diligently. But Arthur continued his persecutions-- tickling her, pulling
her hair, twitching the book out of her hand, and talking almost
incessantly, making remarks, and asking questions; till at last Elsie said,
as if just ready to cry, "Indeed, Arthur, if you don't let me alone, I shall
never be able to get my lessons."
"Go away then; take your book out on the veranda, and learn your
lessons there," said Louise. "I'll call you when Miss Day comes."
"Oh! no, Louise, I cannot do that, because it would be disobedience,"
replied Elsie, taking out her writing materials.
Arthur stood over her criticising every letter she made, and finally
jogged her elbow in such a way as to cause her to drop all the ink in her
pen upon the paper, making quite a large blot.
"Oh!" cried the little girl, bursting into tears, "now I shall lose my ride,
for Miss Day will not let me go; and I was so anxious to see all those
beautiful flowers."
Arthur, who was really not very vicious, felt some compunction when
he saw the mischief he had done. "Never mind, Elsie," said he. "I can
fix it yet. Just let me tear out this page, and you can begin again on the
next, and I'll not bother you. I'll make these two figures come right
too," he added, taking up her slate.

"Thank you, Arthur," said the little girl, smiling through her tears; "you
are very kind, but it would not be honest to do either, and I had rather
stay at home than be deceitful."
"Very well, miss," said he, tossing his head, and walking away, "since
you won't let me help you, it is all your own fault if you have to stay at
home."
"Elsie," exclaimed Louise, "I have no patience with you! such
ridiculous scruples as you are always raising. I shall not pity you one
bit, if you are obliged to stay at home."
Elsie made no reply, but, brushing away a tear, bent over her writing,
taking great pains with every letter, though saying sadly to herself all
the time, "It's of no use, for that great ugly blot will spoil it all."
She finished her page, and, excepting the unfortunate blot, it all looked
very neat indeed, showing plainly that it had been written with great
care. She then took up her slate and patiently went over and over every
figure of the troublesome example, trying to discover where her
mistake had been. But much time had been lost through Arthur's
teasing, and her mind was so disturbed by the accident to her writing
that she tried in vain to fix it upon the business in hand; and before the
two troublesome figures had been made right, the hour was past and
Miss Day returned.
"Oh!" thought Elsie, "if she will only hear the others first, I may be able
to get this and the geography ready yet; and perhaps, if Arthur will be
generous enough to tell her about the blot, she may excuse me for it."
But it was a vain hope. Miss Day had no sooner seated herself at her
desk, than she called, "Elsie,