Christina and the boys

by Amy Le Feuvre

"They say they are not," said Mr. O'Flagherty, "and they're a pretty plucky race as a rule, but they're too cock sure of themselves!"

"Isn't it good to be sure?"

"Not sure of ourselves," said Miss Bertha softly, "but sure of Some One better than ourselves."

"We're all afraid of something," said Mr. O'Flagherty. "Now we'll make our confessions. I'm afraid of fine ladies with a 'taste for art'!"

"I'm afraid of schoolmasters," admitted Dawn. "I don't like my master in London. He can't take a joke!"

"I'm afraid of an easy life," said Miss Bertha; "it spoils one so!"

Puggy knitted his brows hard in his endeavour to be strictly true. "I think I'm afraid of being laughed at," he confessed.

Mr. O'Flagherty nodded approvingly at him.

"Now let Scotland speak."

Christina looked up with great earnest eyes.