"I don't see why I should," rejoined Dick.
"There are a great many reasons," said Nelly, who never suffered an angry or revengeful feeling to rest in her heart; "we know that it is noble and right to forgive, and to do as we would be done by; and has not dear mother a thousand times told us to live in love and kindness together?"
"But he played me such a shabby trick!" exclaimed Dick.
"You must remember, dear brother, that Lubin is not so strong as you are, and cannot bear a weight with such ease."
"No; you're right there!" cried Dick proudly, raising the ladder of Spelling with one hand above his head, to show the might of his arm.
Nelly saw that her brother was getting into better humour, and ventured to say something more. "There is another reason why you should forgive Lubin. Poor Lubin has also, perhaps, something to forgive and forget."
"I never ran off and left him in the lurch."
"No," replied Nelly, in a very gentle tone; "but when he was in trouble with Alphabet, you burst out laughing instead of helping him. I don't think, dear Dick, that you know what pain you give by your way of joking and mocking at others who can't do as much as yourself."
"Have I ever pained you, Nelly?"
"Sometimes," replied the child.