The Rectory Children | Page 9

a time had the little girl buried
her tearful face in his rough coat and sobbed out her sorrows to him.

They were never very big sorrows really, but they were big to her, and
rendered bigger by the knowledge in her honest little heart that they
were generally and mostly, if not entirely, brought about by her own
fault.
She could not stoop down to cry on Smut's back now; it would have
risked considerable more dirtying of her poor frock. But she stayed
some way behind her mother and sister, so that she might talk without
being overheard by any one save her four-legged companion.
'Smuttie,' she said, 'I'm very unhappy. This is only the second day at
Seacove and I've vexed mamma already. I made good resol---- never
mind; you know what I mean, Smut--to begin new here, and it's all
gone. I don't know what to do, Smuttie, I truly don't. Alie means to be
kind, but it's quite easy for her to be good, I think. And it's no good me
trying. It really isn't, so I think I'll just leave off and be comfortable.'
Smut looked up and wagged his tail. He was quite ready to agree with
anything Biddy proposed, so long as she spoke cheerfully and did not
cry.
'Good little Smuttie, kind little Smut,' said the child; 'you're so nice and
understanding always.'
But Smut seemed restless; he fidgeted about in front of Bride, first
running a step or two, then stopping to wag his tail and look back
appealingly at her in an insinuating doggy way of his own. Biddy
pretended not to know what he meant, but she could not long keep up
this feint.
'I do know what you want,' she said at last with a sigh. 'It's a scamper,
and I hate running, and I'm sure you know I do. But I suppose I must do
it to please you. You won't roar after me like Rough, anyway.'
And off she set, her short legs exerting themselves valiantly for
Smuttie's sake. He of course could have run much faster, but he was far
too much of a gentleman to do so, and he stayed beside her, contenting
himself every now and then by stopping short to look up at her, with a

quick cheery bark of satisfaction and encouragement.
CHAPTER III
A TRYING CHILD
'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
Child Nature.
Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they
were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight
along the shore. But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the
child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
Mrs. Vane stopped for a moment and looked after them. She and Alie
had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
'There she is again,' said her mother, 'as merry and thoughtless as can
be. That is the worst of her, Alie, you can make no impression on her.'
'I don't think it's quite that, mamma,' Rosalys replied, 'though I know it
often seems so. She was really very, very sorry about her frock. And
she's so young--she's not eight yet, mamma.'
'You were quite different at eight,' answered Mrs. Vane. 'Just
think--that time I was so ill and papa was away. You were barely seven,
and what a thoughtful, careful little body you were! I shall never forget
waking up early one morning and seeing a little white figure stealthily
putting coal on the fire, which was nearly out; taking up the lumps with
its own little cold hands not to make a noise. My good little Alie!' and
she stroked the hand that lay on her arm fondly.
Rosalys smiled up at her. She loved her mother to speak so to her, but
still her heart was sore for Biddy.
'I believe--I know Biddy would be just as loving to you, mamma, if she
knew how,' she said. 'But it is true that she's very provoking. Perhaps it
would be different if she had brothers and sisters younger than

herself--then she'd have to feel herself big and--as if it mattered what
she did.'
'Responsible, you mean,' said Mrs. Vane. 'Yes, that is the best training.
But we can't provide small brothers and sisters ready-made for Biddy,
and I am very well contented with the three I have got! It might be a
good thing if she had some companions nearer her own age, but even
that has its difficulties. Just think of the scrapes she got into that time I
sent her to your aunt's for a fortnight! Why, she was sent home in
disgrace for--what was it for--I forget? Biddy's scrapes are so many.'
'For taking the two smallest