“Hush! Charlie dear,” said Jessie, in soothing tones. “Let Emily be blind-man first, for, you know, polite boys always give way to young ladies.”
“Well, I won’t, I don’t want to be polite, I want to be blind-man first, and I WILL,” rejoined Charlie, as the fire flashed from his eyes.
“Then I won’t play at all,” said Emily, going to an ottoman and seating herself in a very sulky mood.
Thus did these unamiable cousins spoil their own pleasure, and give pain to Jessie by their selfish quarrel. In vain did she try to soothe and coax them into good-nature for some time. At last, tired of the attempt, she rose up, and said—
“Well, if you won’t play, I’ll go into the library and have a good talk with my Uncle Morris.”
This movement made Emily feel slightly ashamed of herself. She was unwilling, too, to be left alone with her brother. So she jumped up, and with a forced smile, said—
“Don’t go, Jessie, I’ll let Charlie be blind-man.”
“I’ve a great mind not to play with you at all now,” growled Charlie.
“Oh yes, do, there’s a dear, good Charlie,” said Jessie, as she approached him, “See! here is the handkerchief, let me tie it over your eyes so that you won’t be able to see the least bit of a mite! I don’t think you will be able to catch me before tea-time.”
This challenge did more to drive the sulks out of Charlie than the coaxing. Charles held his head forward to be bound, while he replied—