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32 smoke! Eeh! my word! but he shall sweat for it."

This was very shocking, but I hoped in time to be able to work a reformation.

"Now you must put on your bonnet and shawl," said the little hero, "and I'll show you my garden.

"And mine," said Mary Ann.

Tom lifted his fist with a menacing gesture, she uttered a loud, shrill scream, ran to the other side of me, and made a face at him.

"Surely Tom, you would not strike your sister! I hope I shall never see you do that."

"You will sometimes, I'm obliged to do it now and then to keep her in order."

"But it is not your business to keep her in order, you know—that is for—"

"Well, now go and put on your bonnet."

"I don't know—it is so very cloudy and cold, it seems likely to rain;—and you know I have had a long drive."

"No matter—you must come; I shall allow of no excuses," replied the consequential little gentleman. And as it was the first day of our acquaintance, I thought I might as well indulge him. It was too cold for Mary Ann to