A Day of Punishment 



Mary took my chair by the back and 

 swung me away from the table. 



'* Don't be a little fool, Harry," she said, 

 quietly. 



I leapt from my chair, seized my plate, 

 and shoved it across the table so hard that 

 it fell and broke on the floor. " I don't 

 want your ugly old breakfast," I cried, and 

 flung out of the room, to hear my sister say 

 with a little quaver of anger in her voice, 

 '' All right, Master Harry, your Father 

 shall hear of this to-night when he comes 

 home ; " and then, slightly raising her voice 

 as I retreated, "No Lewes Fair for yoit 

 next week, young gentleman ! " 



I ran up to my room to fetch my satchel, 

 and when I came down again I heard 

 Mary recounting the history of my ill- 

 deeds to Mother, and I heard Mother cry 

 out on me for my wanton behaviour to her 

 china ; and then Sukie must needs air her 

 opinion and declare that, for her part, she 

 thought I had been like a little bear with a 

 sore head this many days, and that a good 

 dose of senna w^ould not be amiss ; and 

 they all agreed that a stop should be put 

 to it. 



Feeling it beneath my dignity to listen 

 to such idle talk, I left the house, nor did I 

 forget to slam the door behind me, in the 

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