Mrs. Stanley saw that there was something on their mind, so she laid down her book, and tried to draw it out. She began,—
"What is the reason that your little Scottish friend Jessie has not been here lately? I thought that you, Kate, could not take a walk with any pleasure without her, and Fred has become quite a beau since her arrival. I am afraid you have done or said something to offend her."
"Fred," said Kate,—who was two years younger than her brother, and much smaller, and had a great respect for him,—"Fred, do you tell Mother."
Fred gave his trousers a little pull, shook the hair away from his face, half laughed, and did not speak a word; but Kate, like a real little woman, could not keep the secret a moment longer.
"We have had a quarrel, Mother; that's all."
"'A quarrel! that's all!'" said her Mother. "That's a great deal too much; but what did you find to quarrel about?"
"Why, Mother," answered Fred, getting over his bashfulness, now that the secret was out, "it was all about treating servants with kindness."
"Well done!" exclaimed his Mother. "Let us hear what you had to say upon the subject."
"I said it was a shame to abuse those who were poorer than we were; that in God's eyes all were equal. I could not bear to hear Jessie say that she had her own servant at home, and when this servant did anything to displease her, she would pinch and slap her. I told her she was a downright wicked girl!"
"Oh, shocking! shocking!" said Mrs. Stanley. "And, my sweet little Kate, did you too stand up for kindness to servants?"