“Child,” she said sternly, “come down at once from that tree!”
“Why?” said Ladybird.
“Because I tell you to,” said Miss Priscilla.
“Why?” said Ladybird.
“Because I wish you to,” said Miss Priscilla, with a shade more of gentleness in her tone.
“Why?” said Ladybird, with two shades more of gentleness in hers.
“Tell her she’s going to stay with us,” whispered Miss Dorinda; “tell her we want her to.”
But such was the perversity of Miss Priscilla’s nature that a suggestion from her sister to do the thing she wanted to do most, made her do just the reverse.
“You are to come down,” she said, again addressing the top of the tree, “because I command you to do so. You are a naughty girl!”
“Am I a naughty girl?” called back Ladybird; “then I’ll stay up here and be naughty. It will make you less trouble than if I’m naughty down there.”