But how difficult is that middle road which is the only right one! David, being too much set on one single purpose, good though it was, could see nothing else. It was right and generous to abstain from sweets with this end in view; but it was wrong to be rude and unthankful to the sister who meant all so kindly, and was the most unselfish of all. She turned round to Elizabeth with the kind offer of the dainty she had not even tasted herself, but was not more graciously treated.
“How can you, Susie? it is all pulled about with your fingers.”
This was a matter on which the Misses and Masters Merrifield were not wont to be particular; and with one of the teasing laughs that Bessie hated, Sam exclaimed as Susan turned to him, “Yes, thank you, Sukey, I don’t mind finger sauce,” but not before John was stretching out a hand glazed with sugar, and calling out, “Oh, give it to me!” and as it disappeared in his brother’s mouth, he burst out angrily, “How cross, Sam! You did that on purpose!”
“Yes,” said Sam, “I did; for though pigs on four legs are all very well, I don’t like pigs on two.”
“Here, Jackie, never mind,” said Susan, seeing him about to begin to cry, and offering him her last sugar-plum.
“I don’t want sugar-plums, I want barley-sugar,” said John devouring it nevertheless.
“I haven’t one bit more,” said Susan regretfully.
“Have you had any yourself, Susan?” asked Sam.
“No; but I didn’t want any.”
“Oh then, here Susie, I always keep a reserve,” said Henry. “No, no, not you, Jack; I don’t feed little pigs, whatever Susie does.”