the door at once, and then you would have known that it was all fun and
play, and not have troubled mamma about it.'

'Wilfred and Valetta knew,' said Dolores, rather sullenly.

'Oh! but it was such fun,' said Val.

'It was fun that became unkindness on your part,' said her mother.
'You ought not to have kept it up without warning to her. And what do
I hear about names? I hope that was also misunderstanding of the game.
What did you call her?'

'Only a Croat,' said Valetta, indignantly, 'and a Black Brunswicker.'

'Was that it, Dolores?'

'Perhaps,' she muttered, disconcerted by a laugh from her Aunt Jane.

'I do not know what you took them for,' said Lady Merrifield, 'but you
see some part of this trouble arose from a mistake on you part. Now,
Wilfred and Valetta, remember that is not right to force a person into
play against her will. And as to the shooting near, but not at her,
you both know perfectly well that it is forbidden. So give me your
bow, Wilfred. I shall keep it for a week, that you may remember
obedience.'

Wilfred looked sullen, but obeyed. Dolores could not call her aunt
unjust, but as she look round, she met glances that made her think it
prudent to shelter herself among the elders. Aunt Jane asked what the
game was.