II.
TOD’S “PERSECUTE.”
“The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”
Tod came home from school one day, his eyes red and swollen, his clothes dusty and tumbled; with him came Maybee, fierce, angry, revengeful.
“They’re such dre-eadful boys!” she sputtered,—“such mean, hateful, wre-etched boys! I wish I could pound ’em! I wish they’d catch the measles or lock-jaw, an’ mos’ pretty near die! I wish—”
Aunty laid one hand over the angry lips.
“Let’s wait till we feel pleasanter,” she said. “Run up to the bath-room, both of you, and then into the nursery for a nice play with baby. After that we’ll hear about those ‘dre-eadful’ boys.”
“It was some of those new ones and Tom Lawrence. You see, Tod wouldn’t, and they hung him right straight up. It’s just that way always when folks try to be good! they’ll make fun, and I wish—”
But aunty playfully drove the little talker through the hall and up the stairs.
Half an hour later two clean, happy-faced children came into the cool back-parlor, and nestled down beside her.
“Well, what is it?” she said.