Lills Travels in Santa Claus Land | Page 7

was
"dreadful."
She was always talking at the table, for one thing.
"Mamma," said she, one day, from her high chair, "your littlest one
doesn't like fish; what makes you cook him?"
Mamma shook her head, but Flaxie wouldn't look at it. Mrs. Willard
was saying, "When we go to ride this afternoon we can stop at the
slate-quarry."
Who was going to ride? And would they take the "littlest one" too?
Flaxie meant to find out.
[Illustration: Flaxie Frizzle.]
"Do you love me, mamma?" said she, beating her mug against her red
waiter.
"When you are a good girl, Flaxie."
"Well, look right in my eyes, mamma. Don't you see I are a good girl?
And mayn't I go a-riding?"
"Eat your dinner, Mary Gray, and don't talk."
Her mother never called her Mary Gray except when she was
troublesome.
"I want to tell you sumpin, mamma," whispered she, bending forward
and almost scalding herself against the teapot, "I won't talk; I won't talk
a tall."
But it was of no use. Mrs. Willard was not fond of little girls, and Mrs.
Gray would not take Flaxie; she must stay at home with her sister
Ninny.

Now Ninny--or Julia--was almost ten years old, a dear, good, patient
little girl, who bore with Flaxie's naughtiness, and hardly ever
complained. But this afternoon, at four o'clock, her best friend, Eva
Snow, was coming, and Ninny did hope that by that time her mamma
would be at home again!
Mrs. Gray and Mrs. Willard rode off in the carriage; and the moment
they were gone, Flaxie began to frisk like a wild creature.
First she ran out to the gate, and screamed to a man going by,--
"How d'ye do, Mr. Man? You mustn't smoke! My mamma don't like
it!"
"Oh, why did you do that?" said Ninny, her face covered with blushes,
as she darted after Flaxie, and brought her into the house.
"Well, then, show me your new picture-book, and I won't."
As long as she was looking at pictures she was out of mischief, and
Ninny turned the leaves very patiently.
But soon the cat came into the room with the new kitten in her mouth,
and then Flaxie screamed with terror. She thought the cat was eating it
up for a mouse; but instead of that she dropped it gently on the sofa,
purring, and looking at the two little girls as if to say,--
"Isn't it a nice baby?"
Flaxie thought it was; you could see that by the way she kissed it. But
when she picked it up and marched about with it, the old cat mewed
fearfully.
"Put it down," said Ninny. "Don't you see how bad you make its mother
feel?"
"No. I's goin' to carry it over the bridge, and show it to my grandma;
she wants to see this kitty."

Ninny looked troubled. She hardly dared say Flaxie must not go, for
fear that would make her want to go all the more.
"What a funny spot kitty has on its face," said she, "white all over; with
a yellow star on its forehead."
"Well," said Flaxie, "I'll wash it off." And away she flew to the kitchen
sink.
"What are you up to now?" said Dora, the housemaid, who stood there
with her bonnet on. "You'll drown that poor little creetur, and squeeze
it to death too! Miss Ninny, why don't you attend to your little sister?"
Dear Ninny! as if she were not doing her best! And here it was
half-past three, and Eva Snow coming at four!
"O Dodo!" said she, "you're not going off?"
"Only just round the corner, Miss Ninny. I'll be right back."
But it was a pity she should go out at all. Mrs. Gray did not suppose she
would leave the house while she was gone.
As soon as "Dodo" was out of sight, Flaxie thought she could have her
own way.
"O Ninny! you're my darlin' sister," said she, with a very sweet smile.
"Will you lem me carry my kitty over to grandma's?"
"Why, no indeed! You mustn't go 'way over the bridge."
"Yes I mus'. 'Twon't hurt me a tall!"
"But I can't let you, Flaxie Frizzle; truly I can't; so don't ask me again."
Flaxie's lip curled as well as her nose.
"Poh! I haven't got so good a sister as I fought I had. Laugh to me,
Ninny, and get me my pretty new hat, or I'll shut you up in the closet!"

Ninny did laugh, it was so funny to hear that speck of a child talk of
punishing a big girl like her!
"Will you lem me go?" repeated Flaxie.
"No, indeed! What an idea!"
"I've got fi-ive cents, Ninny. I'll buy you anyfing what you want? Now
lem me!