THE ANIMALS OFFER CONSOLATION. 83

“I hope you are not hurt: you should
learn to walk properly like a young lady,
and not go rushing about like a wild creature;”
and Miss M., who has just come up, says,
“Madge, how many times have I desired you
to sew that piece of braid on your dress?”

I don’t answer, for if I open my lips to
speak I know I shall cry, and I dare not ery
before Father, for I know from bitter experi-
ence that to shed one tear before him is to
be banished from society for the rest of the
day; so I gulp down my emotion, and having
handed Jack’s handkerchief to him, with a
smothered sob follow Father down the steps,
and hold up my injured countenance for his
farewell kiss. This being given, I turn away
and walk quietly by myself down one of the
paths until I am out of sight, then I rush
into the kitchen-garden, and making straight
for the menagerie, throw myself down in the
midst of the animals and howl to my heart’s
content. The animals all gather round me,
and offer consolation in various voices; and
Jock, my dear old collie, comes and stands