Farmer Sparrow excused himself from any further attendance upon the party, as he must secure his beloved bees ere they were lost to him.
The sun was now sinking in the west, and Marcus, laden with the results of his successful trouting, came whistling up to the farmhouse. He heard, in silence, the story of Hatty’s misfortune; but when his mother came quite to the end, Marcus walked up to his sister, and kissing her fondly, said: “You are a splendid girl, Hatty. You ought to have been a boy!” Then, turning to Meg, his indignation burst upon her, and he could not find words strong enough to express his anger at her mischief, and his conviction of the severity of the punishment she deserved.
Meg could only reply in sobs.
“Poor Meg is punished sufficiently by seeing her sister suffer. I think she will not soon forget this lesson!” said Mrs. Lee, kindly.
“Meg did not know the harm she was doing!” added Hatty, pleadingly.
“I only wanted to look inside,” said poor Meg, in the midst of her sobs. “I thought the wise little bees knew too much to hurt us!”
“I hope my little Meg will remember, hereafter, ‘to touch not, taste not, handle not’ what is not her own,” said Mrs. Lee, soberly.
“Indeed, I will try,” answered Meg, earnestly. “Do kiss me, Hatty,” and the child turned her swollen face towards her generous sister.
Hatty kissed her, and assured her the pain of the stings was almost gone, and that she should soon be quite well.
Mr. Lee was now ready with the horses, and the little party set out for home.