Hatty and Marcus | Page 6

before
she dare trust herself to speak, nor did he know that she was now
wondering why Aunt Barbara should be so unlike her dear, dear
grandma.
Marcus kept steadily on at his work, but Hatty did not feel satisfied

about it until she had asked her mother if there was really any harm in
what they were doing. After Mrs. Lee had given them free permission
to go on, the morning passed pleasantly away in watching Marcus, and
she was quite surprised when the dinner bell rang.
"O dear!" said Hatty, "we shall have hardly time to put ourselves in
order for the table."
Although Marcus knew that it was his mother's express wish that he
should never come to the table without looking neat and tidy, he paid
little regard to his personal appearance; but there was something in the
eager way in which Hatty hastened to brush the hair she had been too
much inclined to neglect, that had its influence on him.
Hatty was in her seat before her father was at the table, and a pleased
smile crossed her face as she saw that Marcus had been using the
clothes brush, and combing his straight black hair off his high forehead.
The dinner hour was always a pleasant time at Mrs. Lee's, for then all
the family were together, and some interesting conversation was sure to
take place. Marcus was a restless boy, active in body and mind. He
enjoyed his father's society, and affected to think that he was the only
one in the family who was really a suitable companion for a boy of the
mature age of twelve!
Mr. Lee was a merchant; he had lately met with large losses, but he did
not allow himself to be saddened by misfortunes that left his home
untouched, and all his dear ones alive and well. Mr. Lee was a tall,
slender man, with a bright, expressive eye, and a large, pleasant mouth,
and his children thought him the handsomest man in Hyde, the large
inland town where he lived.
During the dinner-hour on the day about which we are writing, Mr. Lee
was talking of a plan for building an Orphan Asylum, about which the
citizens of Hyde were greatly interested.
Marcus listened to his father's remarks, and seemed to think himself
called upon to reply. He did so, and showed uncommon quickness and

good sense for a boy of his years in what he said. Mrs. Lee modestly
made some suggestions, which her husband thought particularly useful;
but Marcus' lip curled as his mother spoke, in a way which it was well
for him escaped his father's observation. After dinner, Mr. Lee was
obliged to hurry away, but not too soon to give Hatty a kiss, and to say
to her how pleasant it was to see her face once more at the table.
When Mr. Lee was gone, Mrs. Lee resumed the subject about which
they had been talking, and sketched what she thought would be an
improvement on the internal arrangement of the proposed building.
"Now don't, Mother!" said Marcus. "What do women know about such
things?"
"What do boys know? you had better say!" said Hatty, hastily taking
part with her mother.
"Any sensible boy of twelve knows more about such things than a
woman!" said Marcus, turning to leave the room.
"Stop, Marcus," said Mrs. Lee, gently.
Marcus stopped, but did not approach his mother. She stepped to his
side and said: "Marcus, there was once a boy of twelve who had more
wisdom than the learned doctors in the Jewish Temple. He, of course,
knew more than his mother. Yet he went down with her to Nazareth,
and was subject unto her. Even he was not above honoring his father
and mother. Will you not try to imitate him?"
Marcus was softened by his mother's gentle manner, and he answered:
"If I don't behave as I ought to you, Mother, it is a great shame;" and
then he was again turning away.
Again he was detained. Hatty laid her hand on his arm and said:
"Marcus, I did not speak rightly to you just now. I was angry. I am
sorry." Hatty blushed painfully when she spoke, and it was evident the
acknowledgment cost her a great effort.

"I did not notice it," said Marcus, hurrying away.
Hatty felt a little hurt at the way her apology was received, but her
mother took her by the hand, and said: "That is right, Hatty. Confess
your faults one to another, and pray one for another. You must not
forget Marcus in your prayers."
Hatty was silent a moment, and then her mother said: "Come now, my
dear, the baby is awake, and you will have an opportunity to see his
queer