MRS. DISCIPLINE’S COTTAGE. 145

led slightly'but steadily uphill. After a couple of hours of this kind
of walking, during which Buttercup felt his legs ache and his little
mouth grow dry and thirsty, they came in view of an ugly cottage
which stood at the back of a high and barren hill.

During their walk another curious thing had happened: the air,
which had been balmy and warm, had now grown cold and Jero—
the farther the two walked, the barer Teer the trees, until at last
they were quite leafless, and Buttercup, looking down, exclaimed in
atone of disgust, and with a shiver running through his little
frame—

“Why, there’s snow on the ground !”

“OF course there is,” replied Patience. ‘ We are in Winter Land
now, and in Winter Land you have got to stay, my good little man,
for the present. Iam bringing you to pay a visit to my sister, Mrs.
Discipline: she lives in that cottage yonder.”

“But I don’t at all want to go to stay with your sister Mrs.
Discipline,’ exclaimed Buttereup. ‘I think she has a very ugly

name, and that’s a horrid nasty looking house over there—and I don’t
like—I can’t bear Winter Land. Let us go back to you cottage,
please, Patience.”

“No, we can’t,” replied Patience. “The King’s orders are very
plain. You are to stay in Winter Land, under Mrs. Discipline’s care,
for the present. She is not so bad as she looks, Buttercup. Let me
give you a word of advice, my poor little boy.”

“What is it, Patience? Patience, I feel awfully frightened.”

“Tf you follow my advice you have not the least cause to fear.
You will not be iv any danger at Mrs. Discipline’s. You were in
great peril at Castle Dangerous, and you ran a fearful risk when you
were in the Green Lady’s house, but at Mrs. Discipline’s you will be
as safe as a little boy can be, and the time will not be so bad if you
submit to Mrs. Discipline. If you obey her, and do exactly what she
tells you, the time will not be bad and the time will not be long;
but if you struggle to have your own way while you live in Winter
Land, you will be a very, very unhappy little boy indeed! Now take
my hand, and let us climb up this path to the cottage.”

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