“No, my dear, because you do not tease him; but your brother is very fond of teasing animals, and so he gets punished and frightened. It is very wrong of him to do so, especially as he is told by his father and me that he ought not.”
“You said I was a good boy when I learnt my lesson this morning,” replied Tommy.
“Yes, but you should always be good,” replied his mother.
“I can’t be always good,” said Tommy; “I want my dinner.”
“It is dinner-time, Tommy, that is certain, but you must wait until they all come home from their work.”
“There’s Ready coming, with a bag on his shoulder,” replied Tommy.
Ready soon came up to where Mrs Seagrave was sitting, and laid down the bag. “I’ve brought you some young cocoa-nuts, and some old ones also, from the trees that I have been cutting down.”
“Oh! cocoa-nuts—I like cocoa-nuts!” cried Tommy.
“I told you, Tommy, that we should have some by and by, and they have come sooner than we thought. You are very warm, Ready.”
“Yes, ma’am,” replied Ready, wiping his face; “it is rather warm work, for there is no breeze in the grove to cool one. Is there anything you want from the other side of the island, for I shall go there directly after dinner?”