At which the young barbarians shouted aloud with contempt, and Valetta
added. 'She is afraid of everything--cows and dogs and frogs.'
'I got a whole match-box full of grasshoppers to shut up in her desk
and make her squall,' said Wilfred, 'only the girls went and turned
them out.'
'It was so cruel to the poor grasshoppers,' said Mysie. 'One had his
horn broken, and dragged his leg.'
'What does she do?' asked Jasper.
'She's always cross,' said Fergus.
'And she won't play,' added Valetta. 'And never will lend us anything
of hers.'
'And she's a regular sneak,' said Wilfred. 'She wants to tell of
everything--only we stopped that and she doesn't dare now.'
'You see,' said Mysie, gravely, 'she has always lived alone and in
London, and that makes her horribly stupid about everything sensible.
We thought we should soon teach her to be nice; and mamma says we shall
if we are patient.'
'We'll teach her, won't we, Japs!' said Wilfred, aside, in an ominous
voice.
'She is only thirteen,' added Valetta, 'and she pretends to be grown
up, and only to care for a grown-up young lady--that Constance Hacket.'
'Yes,' added Mysie, 'only think--they write poetry!'
'What rot it must be!' said Jasper. 'There's a man in my house that
writes poetry, and don't they chaff him! And this must be ever so much
worse.'
'Oh, that it is,' said Valetta. 'I heard Mr. Poulter and Miss Vincent
laughing about it like anything.'
'But they get it put into print,' said Mysie, still impressed.
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