civilly. "May I go into your sitting room, or would you have the
goodness to tell him to come to me here."

"I shall do no such thing," answered Miss Jane, "you may get him as you
can, though I do not know how you will manage to do that either; for
Mary has taken such a fancy to the little fellow, that she will not give
him up easily."

"Would you tell me if Reuben is content?" asked Marten, "for if so I
would rather leave him with Miss Mary."

"Just pop your head inside that door," said the rude girl, "and judge
for yourself, that is, if you dare to do so--for your brother is there,
and Mary and a dozen more girls. Do you dare?" she inquired mockingly,
"come let me see you do it, then."

"Dare," repeated Marten indignantly, "and why should I not dare--I want
my brother."

"Do it then," said Jane, "if you are not a coward, which I strongly
suspect you are;" and when was a spirited boy of thirteen so urged on
that had the prudence to know where to stop with propriety to himself.
Marten, choking with rage, did advance to the door pointed out, and put
his head inside, and there, on beholding a group of young ladies of all
ages, from eight to fourteen, and no little brother, and finding all
eyes turned upon himself as an impertinent intruder, he drew his head
back quickly, and was met with a loud laugh from Jane, which so annoyed
him, that without stopping to think, he ran off to his own room as fast
as he could. The voice of Mary Roscoe however reached him as he ran
along the gallery, uttering these words: "I'll take care of Reuben,