My Pretty Sister 



havoc among them. The question of 

 insects, snails included, was a very puzzling 

 one to me, for, naughty little lad as I was in 

 many ways, I could never bear to hurt any 

 creature. Too tender-hearted to kill the 

 snails in question, I dropped them as gently 

 as I could into a neighbour's garden. 



I was happy and grubby enough to please 

 any boy, and, occasionally putting my hot 

 face inside the window to report to my sis- 

 ter what I was doing, was at last descried 

 by Mary, who came in with her sewing in 

 her hand to sit by her sister awhile. *' Oh, 

 you untidy little fellow! " she cried. "Here, 

 come in with you ; it will soon be tea-time, 

 and I must scrub you down before you can 

 come to table." And, indeed, it was true ; 

 for, what with the heat and the soil and the 

 remains of the morning's school ink, I 

 looked very, very disreputable indeed. I 

 came in meekly, and she turned my little 

 garments down to my waist and set to 

 work with soap and water, Esther looking 

 on with the shadow of a smile on her face ; 

 for, indeed, I must have looked a comical 

 thing with my hot, red face and silver head 

 and bare, skinny little arms and body. 

 Mary rubbed, rinsed and polished, and 

 talked the whole while, telling one piece 

 of news after another in a way which I 

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