Naughty Miss Bunny | Page 7

if we can read, certainly, Bunny," answered
Miss Kerr laughing, "but they would soon find out if we did not, I can
tell you. People who cannot read seldom learn those things that
everyone should know, and so they are ignorant and stupid. Surely you
would not like Mervyn to beat you at his lessons, would you?"
"Oh, but he's older than me," said Bunny, "and, of course, he knows a
great deal more than me, and----"
"Than I, Bunny, say he is older than I am," corrected Miss Kerr. "Yes,
he is older, but I do not think he knows more than you do. His papa
says he has never been taught anything but his letters, and he can
hardly speak English."
"Oh, dear! Does he only speak French then?" said Bunny with a look of
alarm.
"No, Hindustanee. That is the Indian language, you know, and as he
always had a native nurse he does not know English very perfectly. But
we will soon teach him, won't we, dear?"
"Oh, yes, it will be fun, and I'll try very hard to learn to read well
before he does! It will be nice to have a cousin, won't it? I wonder what
he's like. But I'm sure he'll be nice. I know he will. Don't you think he'll
be nice, Miss Kerr?"
"Yes, dear, I think it is very likely, but you will know all about him
to-morrow."
"Oh, I wish to-morrow would come, quick, quick!" cried Bunny; "the
days and the hours go over so slowly, and I do want to see that little
Indian."
"Poor little boy! I daresay he will be very tired and shy when he arrives.
It is a sad thing to leave father and friends and come among strangers,
Bunny," said Miss Kerr, and there were tears in her eyes as she gazed
out over the garden.

"Dear Miss Kerr, why should you feel sorry for Mervyn? I'm so glad
that he is coming here," said Bunny softly, and she put her little hand
into Miss Kerr's. "Why should you cry for him? We will be very kind
to him, you and I, and papa and mama."
"Yes, darling, of course," answered Miss Kerr stroking the little hand.
"But I was not thinking of Mervyn, but of someone I know, who had to
leave her dear home, her father and mother, and brothers and sisters, to
go be governess to a wild little girl, who did not care to learn her
lessons and did not love her at all."
"Why, that's like me and you! But I do love you; oh, I do love you!"
cried the child, and she flung her arms round Miss Kerr's neck. "You
are so good and kind, and I am sorry you had to leave your little
brothers and sisters, and I won't be wild, and I'll love you very much."
"If you do, Bunny, you will make me very happy, and I think you will
soon be a very good little girl," and Miss Kerr kissed the eager face
over and over again. "But run away now and get ready for tea. I have
some letters to write for the post, and I shall just have time if you run
off at once."
"Very well," said Bunny jumping off Miss Kerr's knee. "I must go to
tell Sophie the news." And away she ran, calling, "Sophie, Sophie," as
she went up the stairs.
"She has a good little heart, and will become a fine character in time, if
she is properly managed," said Miss Kerr to herself as the child left the
room. "But she has been terribly spoilt and neglected. If the boy from
India is as great a pickle as Miss Bunny, I shall have my hands very full
indeed," and with something between a sigh and a laugh, Miss Kerr
seated herself at the table and began to write her letters.

[Illustration: Chapter decoration.]
CHAPTER III.

BUNNY GETS UP EARLY.
For a long time after she went to bed that night, Bunny could not go to
sleep, and lay tossing about from side to side, wishing over and over
again that it was morning, that she might get up and put all her toys and
books in order, so that they should look as nice as possible when she
came to show them to the new cousin.
At last she dropped off into a sound sleep, and did not wake again until
the sun was shining brightly into her room. She jumped up and looked
about to see if Sophie had gone to get her bath ready. But the maid lay
fast asleep in her bed at the other side of the room, and poor Bunny felt
sure she would not get up for