"'Don't give me fat, I don't like it.'
"'No fat for Master Low,' cried Miss Evans: and then again speaking to the boy, 'You have a charming house here, Master Low; I had no notion how good it was till I went over it this morning. I tell the young gentlemen here that they must be very careful not to do mischief.'
"'They cannot do any, sister,' said Mr. Evans, 'if they keep to their places. They must not go into the garden, there is abundant room for them to play in elsewhere, and they shall have as much fruit as is good for them. Mind, boys, on honour, no going into the garden. You shall not need, for as Mr. Low kindly leaves us the use of the fruit, you shall have your full share.'
"'You hear, young gentlemen,' said Miss Evans; 'Master Meekin, Master Griffith, Master Price——'
"'And Master Low,' added Mr. Evans, 'you are, on honour, not to go into the garden.'
"'Master Low!' repeated Miss Grizzy; 'Master Low not to go into his papa's garden?'
"Mr. Evans never disputed with his sister before the boys, and not, indeed, very often when alone with her, for he loved peace and quietness, and she would always have many last words; so he said no more; and she, tapping Bernard gently on the back, said, in a low voice:
"'That would be hard, would not it, to keep you out of your dear papa's own garden?'
"'I should think so,' answered Bernard, in the same low voice.
"This was only the beginning; and as Miss Grizzy went on as she had begun, in setting up Bernard, and flattering him to the very utmost in her power, there is much reason to fear that he was not likely to be the better for being left with her.