Ella took a step forward, and held out her hand, when mamma’s darling’s face contracted, and directly after she spat fiercely at the new-comer, and then ran howling behind the sofa.
“Naughty Seliny—naughty Seliny!” said Mrs Marter. “You see, Miss Bedford, you are strange to them yet. They will know you better soon.”
“I sha’n’t do no lessons,” said Alicia defiantly; “and I’ve burnt my book.”
“Fie, fie!” said Mrs Marter sweetly.
“Licy pushed me downstairs, mar,” said the darling behind the sofa.
“No, I didn’t,” shouted Alicia; “she tumbled.”
“There’s a big story!” cried Eleonora. “She put her hands on her back, mar, and pushed her as hard as she could—”
Smack!
“Boo—boo—bo—oh!”
Before Miss Eleonora had finished her sentence, her sweet sister had smitten her upon the mouth so sharply, that her lip bled, and she burst forth into a loud howl.