"I won't either! She isn't a bit pretty, and I don't like her," said Josey, his mouth drawn down into an ugly pout.
Mrs. Kent could scarcely help smiling when she saw with what a gaze of horror Ida regarded her cousin; while Aunt Mary whispered to her brother—
"She'll be ashamed to show any of her tantrums here when she sees how they make Joseph look."
Supper was all ready for the weary travellers. As soon as they could take off their outer garments and wash the dust from their faces, they drew around the table.
Josey usually sat in a high chair; but now his mother had put a large book into a common chair to raise him. When he saw Ida sitting in his, he caught hold of the back and jerked it so rudely that he almost threw her to the floor.
"Get out, you ugly girl!" he screamed, striking her in the face.
Mr. Mason caught the child and shook him till he could not stand. Then calling the servant, in a loud, angry tone, he said—
"Take Joseph upstairs and lock him in his room."
All this time Ida was anxiously watched by her parents. They both expected that she would resent the affront and begin to scream with passion. But to their surprise, she seemed more grieved than angry. Her lip quivered, and she clung to her mamma, trying to hide her eyes in the lady's dress.
"I don't love Josey," the little girl exclaimed, as Mrs. Kent was putting her to bed an hour later.