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oss；〃 and David lay flat on his face； puffing at his own particular oven； like a little Wind in an old picture。 Sam waited； leaning on the ashen stick that served him as a poker。 It was the most audacious thing he had ever heard。 Rob them of their bonfire！ Would that old traitor of a Purday abet her？
Perhaps Purday was as much astonished as the rest； but； after all； much as the children tormented his bonfires； overset his haycocks； and disturbed his wood…pile； he did not like anyone to scold them but himself； much less the new London Lady； so he made up an odd sort of grin； and said； 〃No； no； Ma'am； it ain't that they do so much harm； let 'em bide；〃 and he proceeded to shake on the rest of his barrowful； tumbling the weeds down over David's cherished oven in utter disregard； but the children cried with one voice； 〃Hurrah！ hurrah！ Purday； we don't do any harm； so don't ever grumble again。 Hurrah！〃
〃And I don't care for HER； the crosspatch；〃 said Johnnie to Annie； never hearing or heeding Miss Fosbrook's fervent 〃I am so glad！〃
And as long as the foolish boy remembered it； he always did believe that Miss Fosbrook was so cross as to want to hinder them from their bonfire； only Purday would not let her。
Miss Fosbrook did not trouble herself to be understood； she was relieved to have done her duty； and be free to rejoice in and share the pleasure。 She ran about and collected materials for Sam till she was out of breath； and joined in all the excitement as the fire showed symptoms of reviving； after being apparently crushed out by Purday。 Sam and Susan； at least； believed that she had only spoken to Purday because she thought it right； but even for them to forgive interference with their bonfire privileges was a great stretch。
At last she thought it time to leave them to their own devices； and seize the moment for some quiet reading； but she had not reached the house before little steps came after her； and she saw Elizabeth running fast。
〃They are so tiresome；〃 she said。 〃Sam won't let me stand anywhere but where the smoke gets into my eyes； and George plagues so！ May I come in with you； dear Christabel？〃
〃You are very welcome；〃 said Miss Fosbrook； 〃but I am sorry to hear so many complaints。〃
〃They are so cross to me；〃 said Bessie； 〃they always are。〃
〃You must try to be cheerful and good…humoured with them； and they will leave off vexing you。〃
〃But may I come in？ It will be a nice time for my secret。〃
Christabel saw little hope for her intended reading； but she was always glad of a space for making Bessie happy； so she kindly consented to the bringing out of the little girl's treasury； and the dismal face grew happy and eager。 The subjects of the drawings were all clear in her head； that was not the difficulty； but the cardboard； the ribbon； the real good paints。 One little slip of card Miss Fosbrook hunted out of her portfolio； she cut a pencil of her own； and advised the first attempt to be made upon a piece of paper。 The little bird that Bessie produced was really not at all bad； and her performance was quite fair enough to make it worth while to go on； since Miss Fosbrook well knew that mammas are pleased with works of their children； showing more good…will than skill。 For why？ Their value is in the love and thought they show。
The little bird was made into a robin with the colours in a paint…box that Bessie had long ago bought； but they were so weak and muddy； that the result was far from good enough for a present； and it was agreed that real paints must be procured as well as ribbon。 Miss Fosbrook offered to commission her sisters to buy the Prussian blue； lake； and gamboge in London； and send them in a letter。 This was a new idea to Bessie； and she was only not quite decided between the certainty that London paints must be better than country ones； and the desire of the walk to Bonchamp to buy some； but the thought that the ribbon； after all； might be procured there； satisfied her。 The little doleful maid was changed into an eager； happy； chattering child； full of intelligence and contrivance； and showing many pretty fancies； since there was no one to tease her and laugh at her； and her governess listened kindly and helpfully。
Miss Fosbrook could not help thinking how much happier her little companion would have been as an only child； or with one sister； and parents who would have made the most of her love of taste and refinement； instead of the hearty busy parents； and the rude brothers and sisters； who held her cheap for being unlike themselves。 But then she bethought her； that perhaps Bessie might have grown up vain and affected； had all these tastes been petted and fostered； and that perhaps her little hardships might make her the stronger； steadier； more useful woman； instead of living in fancies。 It was the unkindness on one side； and the temper on the other； that made Miss Fosbrook uneasy。
The work had gone on happily for nearly an hour； and Bessie was copying a forget…me…not off a little painted card…board pincushion of her own； when steps were heard； little trotting steps； and Susan came in with little George。 He had been pushed down by Johnnie； and was rather in a fretful mood； and Susan had left all her happy play to bring him in to rest and comfort him； coming to the school…room because Nurse Freeman was out。 Before Elizabeth had time to hide away her doings； George had seen the bright pincushion； and was holding out his hands for it。 Bessie hastily pocketed it。 George burst out crying； and Susan； without more ado； threw herself on her sister； and； pinioning Bessie's slight arm by the greater strength of her firm one； was diving into her pocket in spite of her struggles。
〃Susan； leave off；〃 said Miss Fosbrook； 〃let your sister alone。 She has a right to do what she likes with her own。〃
〃It is so cross in her；〃 said Susan； obeying however； but only to snatch up little George； and hug and kiss him。 〃Poor dear little man！ is Betty cross to him？ There！ there！ come with Sue； and SHE'LL get him something pretty。〃
〃Susie； Susie； indeed it's only that I don't want him to spoil it；〃 said Elizabeth； distressed。
〃A foolish thing like that！ Why； the only use of it is to please the children； but you are just such a baby as he is；〃 said Susan； still pitying George。
〃You had better put your things away； Bessie；〃 said Miss Fosbrook； interfering to stop the dispute； and as soon as Elizabeth was gone； and George a little pacified by an ivory ribbon…measure out of Miss Fosbrook's work…box； she observed to Susan； 〃My dear； you must not let your love for the little ones make you unjust and unkind to Bessie。〃
〃She always is so unkind to them；〃 said Susan resentfully。
〃I don't think she feels unkindly； but if you tyrannize over her； and force her to give way to them； you cannot expect her to like it。〃
〃Mamma says the elder must give way to the younger；〃 said Susan。
〃You did not try whether she would give way。〃
〃No； because I knew she wouldn't； and I could not have my little Georgie vexed。〃
〃And I could not see my little Susie violent and unjust；〃 said Miss Fosbrook cheerfully。 〃Justice first； Susan； you had no right to rob Bessie for George； any more than I should have to give away a dinner of your papa's because he had refused a beggar。〃
〃Papa never would；〃 said Susan； rather going off from the point。
〃Very likely； but do you understand me； Susan？ I will not have Bessie FORCED out of her rights for the little ones。 Not Bessie only； but nobody is to be tyrannized over； it is not right。〃
〃Bessie is so nonsensical；〃 was all Susan said； looking glum。
〃Very likely she may seem so to you； but if you knew more； you would see that all is not nonsense that seems so to you。 Some people would admire her ways。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 said Susan。 〃Mrs。 Greville told Mrs。 Brownlow that Bessie was the only one among us that was capable of civilisation； but Mrs。 Greville is a fine lady； and we always laugh at her。〃
〃And now；〃 as Bessie returned； 〃you want to go out to your play again； my dear。 Will you leave Georgie with us？〃
Susan was a little doubtful about trusting her darling with anyone； especially one who could take Bessie's part against