Page:Story of the robins.djvu/77

 Rh at their concern, and wanted to tell a long story about an ox that had been driven by a cruel drover till he went mad; but Harriet and his sister stopped their ears.

At last little Frederick went crying to his mamma, and the young ladies retired to another apartment; so Edward amused himself with catching flies in the window, pulling the legs off some, and the wings off others, delighted with their contortions, which were occasioned by the agonies they endured. Mrs. Benson had some visitors, which prevented her talking to this cruel boy as she otherwise would have done on hearing Frederick's account of him; but she determined to tell his papa, which she accordingly did some time after, when he returned home.

Edward was now disturbed from his barbarous sport by being called to tea; and soon after that was over, the servant came to fetch him and his sister. Harriet earnestly entreated her friend Lucy to feed the birds properly till she should be allowed to fetch them; Lucy promised to do so, for she was greatly affected with Mrs. Benson's discourse, and then entreated her brother to take leave, that she might return home. With this he readily complied, as there were no further opportunities for cruelty.