Mrs. Jo knew what he meant, but she liked her little black sheep all the better for her pluck, though she only said in her soberest way,—
“Do you know why I asked Nan to come here?”
“To plague me,” muttered Stuffy, with his mouth full.
“To help me make little gentlemen of you, and I think you have shown that some of you need it.”
Here Stuffy retired into his bowl again, and did not emerge till Demi made them all laugh by saying, in his slow wondering way,—
“How can she, when she’s such a tomboy!”
“That’s just it, she needs help as much as you, and I expect you to set her an example of good manners.”
“Is she going to be a little gentleman too?” asked Rob.
“She’d like it; wouldn’t you, Nan?” added Tommy.
“No, I shouldn’t; I hate boys!” said Nan, fiercely, for her hand still smarted, and she began to think that she might have shown her courage in some wiser way.