“No; and ’tisn’t any more foolish, either,” replied Otis.
“Why, how absurd!” exclaimed Kate. “Ladies have to get their ears bored, to wear ear-rings, and besides, it doesn’t hurt hardly any to bore them. I’m sure there’s no comparison between the two things.”
She did not stop to hear what answer might be made to this remark, and perhaps it was well that she did not.
“It does hurt, though!” exclaimed Otis, as soon as his sister was out of hearing. “O, doesn’t it smart! Come, let’s stop, now, and finish it some other time.”
“No, I’ve got mine almost done, and I’m going to finish it now,” replied Ronald, who was possessed of more endurance than his comrade.
Ronald persevered, and in a few minutes, wiping off the blood and ink, a rude resemblance to a star appeared in the red, inflamed flesh, between his thumb and forefinger. He seemed quite proud of the achievement, and going into the house, and extending his hand to Miss Lee, he accosted her with—
“See there, Aunt Fanny!”
“And see that, too!” said Otis, exhibiting his mark. “Mine isn’t done yet, you see. It was so sore I had to stop, but I’m going to finish it some other time.”
“What put it into your heads to do that?” inquired Miss Lee.
“O, nothing,—only the other boys do it,” replied Ronald.