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84 it necessary to interfere with Master Bloomfield's amusements; he was very much distressed about your destroying the birds."

"When Master Bloomfield's amusements consist in injuring sentient creatures," I answered, "I think it my duty to interfere."

"You seemed to have forgotten," said she, calmly, "that the creatures were all created for our convenience."

I thought that doctrine admitted some doubt, but merely replied—

"If they were, we have no right to torment them for our amusement."

"I think," said she, "a child's amusement is scarcely to be weighed against the welfare of a soulless brute."

"But, for the child's own sake, it ought not to be encouraged to have such amusements," answered I, as meekly as I could, to make up for such unusual pertinacity.

"Oh, of course! but that refers to our conduct towards each other."