"Just as you choose," he said, "but you are in such a way in these days to lay up money for your mission-books that I thought you would be willing enough to sell it."
"Children," said Mr. Bradford, again looking up from his writing, "if you cannot play without disputing, I shall separate you. Fred, your little sisters were quiet and happy before you came in. Do not let me have to speak to you again, my boy."
Now here was the consequence of having a bad character. Fred had not intended to vex the children, but he was so in the habit of teasing them that they were afraid of him, and thought he meant it when he did not; while his father, who had not heard much of what was passing, but who had been disturbed by the fretful tone of Bessie's voice, took it for granted that Fred was annoying her. But Bessie was too honest to let him be blamed when he had not deserved it.
"Fred was not naughty, papa," she said. "I'm 'fraid it was me. I was cross."
"Very well," said her father, who thought it best to let them settle the difficulty themselves, if they could do it peaceably; "only let there be no more quarrelling."
"Suppose we go and finish our kites," said Harry. Fred agreed, and the two boys went away.
"Bessie," said Maggie, presently, "I'm just of a good mind to give Harry a piece of my paper."
"For some pennies?" asked Bessie.
"No; mamma said it was not nice for brothers and sisters to sell things to one another; and she don't want us to be too anxious to get money, even for our library. I'm just going to give it to him, 'cause that day when he asked me for the shell, I said I would sell it to him; and then he'll see I am not a miser."
"Well," said Bessie, "then I'll give Fred a piece of mine, 'cause I was cross to him just now."