146 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

Buttercup made a great effort to strangle the sobs which were
almost choking him.

“Come, come!” called a sharp voice in the doorway of the cottage.
“What are you two lingering for? Now, Patience, do you mean to
spoil that boy by helpmg him? Take away your hand, and let him
climb up the path by himself. What are feet made for, child, but to
use? Come, come; if you are not with me in a minute I must send
you on a visit to my father. Ha, ha! you wouldn't like that, I can
tell you. Come along this minute, you tiresome little boy !”

‘Don’t be so hard on the child, Discipline,” said Patience. “ He
is quite new to Winter Country, and he has never seen anybody the
least like you in his life.”

“My dear Patience, do I need you to tell me that? Just. see
how he tumbles and sprawls his legs about. Ah! that’s better !
Now then, here you both are. Come in, come in at once, and let me
shut the door.”

It was evening in Winter Land when Buttercup reached the dreary
house of Mrs. Discipline. When they got inside the cottage he
looked up at her with round eyes full of fear.

«Come, come! none of that sort of expression on your face,” she
said, chucking him sharply under the chin. “I daresay you are
hungry, and want your supper.”

“Yes,ma’am, I’m very, very, hungry,” said Buttercup.

“You can’t eat anything in my house without having first earned
it. Go into the scullery this minute and clean the boots. When
they are all polished and in order, you can let me know, then [ll see
if I have anything for you to eat.”

« But, please,” began Buttercup, “I never cleaned boots in my
life.”

“Oh, didn’t you? Well, it’s fine time you learnt how. Go
into the scullery and find the brushes and the blacking, and set
to work. here are two pairs of my father’s boots and three pairs of
mine, and those shoes you have on your own feet, and Patience’s
slippers. Now be quick; polish them all up, or youll do without
supper, and be sent on a visit to my father.”