room, already so neat, he growled again, 'What a racket you keep!'

'There, won't you be raised up to see her? She does look so pretty
in her new pink muslin, with a double skirt, and her little hat and
feather, that came from London; and there's Puck poking in the hay--
he's looking for a mouse! And she's showering the hay over him with
her parasol! Oh, look, Alfred!' and she was going to lift him up,
but he only murmured a cross 'Can't you be quiet?' and she let him
alone, but went on talking: 'Ah, there's Puck's little tail
wriggling out--hinder-end foremost--here he comes--they are touching
their hats to her now, the farmer and all, and she nods just like a
little queen! She's got her basket, Alfred. I wonder what she has
for you in it! Oh dear, there's that strange boy on the bridge! She
won't like that.'

'Why, what would he do to her? He won't bite her,' said Alfred.

'Oh, if he spoke to her, or begged of her, she'd be so frightened!
There, he looked at her, and she gave such a start. You little
vagabond! I'd like to--'

'Stuff! what could he do to her, with all the hay-field and Farmer
Shepherd there to take care of her? What a fuss you do make!' said
poor Alfred, who was far too miserable just then to agree with any
one, though at almost any other time he would have longed to knock
down any strange boy who did but dare to pass Miss Selby without
touching his cap; and her visits were in general the very light of
his life.

They were considered a great favour; for though old Lady Jane Selby