We Ten | Page 4

was "acting very
mean to Phil," that he needn't always expect to have things his own
way, and that papa was perfectly right to give Phil the first chance. That
set Fee off, and in about two minutes we were all mixed up in the
fuss,--taking "sides," you know; that is, all but Phil,--he just sat
hunched up on the arm of the old sofa, swinging one of his long legs,
and scowling, and chewing away on a piece of straw he'd pulled out of
the whisk-broom, and he didn't say a word until Nora turned on him,
and asked him, very indignantly, how he could sit there and let Felix
bully her in that way. Then all at once he seemed to get very mad and
just pitched into Fee.
I don't remember what he said, and I'm glad that I don't, 'cause I know
Phil didn't mean a word of it; but Felix felt awfully hurt. He got two
bright red spots on his cheeks, and he set his lips tight together, and
when Phil stopped to catch his breath, after an unusually long speech,
he got up and pushed his chair back. "It is so pleasant to hear one's
family's honest opinion of one's self," he remarked, in that sarcastic
way he has. "I shall try to remember all that you've said," bowing to
Phil and Nora, "and I shall endeavour to profit by it. And as long as I'm
such a contemptible and useless member of the community, I'll relieve
you of my company." His voice shook so he could hardly say the last
words, and he started for the door, stumbling over the furniture as he
went. Between you and me, I think his eyes were full of tears, and that
they blurred his glasses so he couldn't see,--did I tell you that Felix is
near-sighted? Well, he is.
"Oh, Phil, how could you say such mean things to your own brother!"
cried out Nannie; and with that she flew after Felix.
That cooled Phil down, and if he didn't turn on Nora! "It's all your
fault," he said angrily; "you just nagged me on to it. You're never happy
unless you're quarrelling."
This was pretty true, but I don't think it was at all nice of Phil to say so,
and I felt very sorry for Nonie when she burst out crying. Betty and I

were trying to quiet her, when in walked Miss Marston, to know what
all that loud noise and banging of doors meant. We didn't tell her about
the fracas, 'cause, though she's pretty good in a way, she isn't at all the
person one would want to tell things to. She carried the little ones off
for their early dinner, and Nora and Betty too,--"to help," she said. But
I stayed in the schoolroom. I knew if I went down stairs they'd just
keep me trotting about waiting on them all, and that's such a nuisance!
so I curled up on the sofa and read for a while.
The fire was so bright, and everything was so cozy, that I did wish
some of the others would come in and enjoy it. I was really pleased
when Major and Whiskers came walking in and settled down near me.
They're our dog and cat, and they're good playfellows with us; but they
will fight with each other now and then. At first I enjoyed my story
immensely; it was about a boy who was having the wildest kind of
adventures among the Indians. I wouldn't go through such exciting
times for anything; but I enjoy reading about 'em, when I'm all safe and
comfortable at home.
Well, when it grew too dark to read, I laid my book down and began to
think, and presently it seemed as if a whole pack of Indians were
dancing like wild round me, in full war-paint and feathers, and nipping
little pieces out of my arms and legs. I stood it as long as I could, and
then I began to hit out at 'em. All at once one of the creatures
commenced flourishing his tomahawk at me, getting nearer and nearer
all the time. "I have tried, but I can't get in," he said, grinning horribly,
and the voice sounded just like Phil's; "he's locked his door, and he
won't even answer me,--he's madder than hornets."
[Illustration: "'WHY, JACK!' SAID NANNIE."]
"I'm sure you can't blame him: what you said was very unkind, Phil; I
didn't think it of you!" The voice was certainly Nannie's; and yet there
was that horrid old Indian still nipping me.
"I know it, Nan; you needn't rub it in," groaned Phil,--the Indian. "But
really, I didn't mean one word of it, and he ought to have known