CHAPTER IV.
NELLY'S PUNISHMENT.
In a few days Frankie was quite well again, and able to play merrily with Nelly, who had sadly missed him in her out-door exercise.
The little girl had not been long with her aunt before the lady saw that the right training of her niece would require much skill and patience. Nelly had never been taught to obey, and could not be made to understand why she should not have her own way, as she had done at home. There was another thing which made her aunt feel very badly. She found that, young as Nelly was, she had already learned to deceive, and no one could trust her word a moment. Then she was selfish, and while she would not oblige her cousins by lending them her books or toys, she was very angry if they did not at once yield theirs to her, when she asked for them.
She was so pert and uncivil in her talk, that Sally, and even Jane, disliked to have her about; and at last her aunt was obliged to shut her in her own room, she spoke so impudently to the servants. Instead of asking the nurse to do her a favor, as the other children did, she used to say, "Go right up stairs quick, Sally, and get my bonnet;" and once, when Sally did not start, she said, "You're an ugly girl," and struck her in the face.
Nurse started forward to hold her hands, when at this moment Mrs. Gray entered the room.
Nelly was ashamed that her aunt had heard her, for she loved her aunt better than any one in the house; but when the lady took her hand firmly to lead her up stairs, she screamed and struggled to get away. "I don't like to stay here," she cried; "this is an ugly house. I wish my mamma would come home and take me away."
Mrs. Gray led her to a chair in her own room, and going out locked the door after her. But Nelly kicked and pounded the door so hard, and threw over the chairs, that her aunt was obliged to call Sally to help her tie the naughty girl to a chair.