OUR HOME BIRDS. 
141 
idea, she said, of letting her children starve; and 
Miss Harson herself had one or two books, which, 
as she said, were really necessaries, for they were 
going to study birds in the open air. Last, but not 
least, there was Flip, an absurd-looking little Scotch 
terrier, who always thought it his right to know all 
that was going on, and to take part in it. 
The young governess laughed heartily as this caval- 
cade presented itself, armed, as she said, with muni- 
tions of war; but every one was finally persuaded 
to leave all useless things behind, except that Clara 
and Edith were allowed a picture-book between them 
and a dollie apiece, and Malcolm carried a small 
satchel slung over his left shoulder, that appeared 
to be of no earthly use except to give him an air of 
very great importance. Miss Harson was provided 
with a botany-box for ferns ; and it was a very merry 
little party, with Flip barking and getting under 
every one’s feet, that finally issued through the great 
entrance-gate at Elmridge. 
Kitty had sniffed a little at this democratic way 
of proceeding; she thought the children — including 
the governess in this class — had much better be taken 
in the carriage by Patrick to wherever they wanted 
to go, and have him call for them decently afterward 
and bring them home ; but Miss Harson thought dif- 
ferently, and as she felt quite sure that the children 
