There were loving adieus from all but Master Freddy, who said to his sister, as she shook hands with him:
'Good-bye, Mabel; I'm glad you're going, you are always so cross with us.'
CHAPTER XII.
NIGHT AND MORNING.
And now an entirely new mode of life was presented to Mabel; and Miss Livesay found, as, indeed, she had expected to find, a fruitful source of trouble in her newly adopted pupil. Of course, on the first day of Mabel's arrival at Oak Villa there were no lessons talked about, and the young ladies next door were not expected to resume their school duties, until the Monday following Miss Livesay's return home; so there was a little time afforded for breaking out, and breaking in. We shall see how it was employed.
This afternoon had been a very pleasant one; the chickens had been looked at and greatly admired; flowers, the great favourites both of aunt and niece, Mabel did not care for, though she liked, as we have seen, to deck herself in gay colours. In the house they had plenty of amusement, with books and pretty specimens of work of various kinds from the ready fingers and artistic taste of Aunt Mary and Clara; indeed, what had been produced by their skill, industry, and steady perseverance, was worthy of admiration. To Mabel's astonishment, nine o'clock struck, and she had not yet finished her pleasant occupation of examining, when her aunt said:
'Now, my dears, it is your bed-time.'
Clara instantly began to put away books and work, but Mabel exclaimed:
'Oh, aunt! must we go to bed so soon? I never go till ten, at home!'