ABOUT FEATHERPATE AND THE MARBLE HALLS. 163

i Bat I must go to Mr. Penalty’s with this parcel. Mrs. Discipline
said so.’

“You are a great fool to mind her,” said Featherpate; “but if
you must, why don’t you take the short cut to Mr. Penalty’s house ?
You know you can’t walk up this steep hill, even if you tried. Look
at it: it’s almost as straight as the walls of a house.”

“T know,” said Buttercup, beginning to sob. “ Oh, dear! oh,
dear! what shall I do?”

“Come with me into the marble hall. After we have played for
an hour I’ll show you some stairs which lead straight up to Mr.
Penalty’s house—you’ll get there just as soon—indeed, sooner than if
you walked up this horrid hill.”

‘Where are the marble halls? ”

“Do you see that door in the side of the hill? Wien we knock
at it it will be opened, and then we’ll find ourselves in the halls. Oh,
it is so-lovely there, and I am so tired of waiting out in the cold.
Come along, Buttercup, come at once and play with me. What are
you lingering for?. See, the sun is setting, and the snow is beginning
to fall again. If you attempt to go up the hill now you will be lost.
Somebody will find your poor little dead body in the morning ; but of
course I can’t persuade you—I can’t force you to go with me against
your will. Good-bye, Buttercup. I am sorry for you, but it is quite
‘impossible for me to stay out any longer with this snow falling all
over me. I shall catch my own death of cold, and that will be a nice
look-out! Good-bye, Buttercup.”

Featherpate pretended to run away as he spoke.

“Oh, do stay a minute!” said Buttercup. ‘“ You don’t know what
a pickle I am in, or you wouldn’t be so unkind as to leave me. Ever
since yesterday I have been in the house of that dreadful Mrs.
Discipline, and oh! I can tell you she is stern.”

“T should rather think she is,” said Featherpate. ‘She tried to
take me in hand once, but it was no use. I soon got her to see that I
couldn’t black boots, and I couldn’tscrub pots and pans. Now, Butter-
cup, are you coming with me, or are you going on by yourself? ”

“J suppose I had better come with you,’ said Buttercup. “I

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