“Where is Norman?” asked Mrs Vallery.
“He ran into the house before me, I suppose he will soon be here.”
Norman, however, did not come immediately, and at last Mrs Vallery went to look for him. She found him in his room rubbing away at his clothes.
“What has happened?” she asked; “why did you not come into the drawing-room at once?”
“I tumbled down in the mud and dirtied my clothes, so I wanted to clean them,” answered Norman, and he said no more.
“That was awkward of you, but as they appear dry, you might have come in to see us all as soon as you returned,” observed Mrs Vallery; “how did you manage to tumble down?”
“That stupid little brat Robby ran after me, and Fanny would not come home. I can take very good care of myself, and so I don’t want her to go out with me any more.”
“I am afraid, Norman, you were not behaving well. I must learn from Fanny what occurred,” said Mrs Vallery. “I will assist you to change your clothes; these are certainly not fit to appear in at dinner.”
Norman was very taciturn while his mamma was dressing him. As soon as she had done so she led him downstairs.
To his grandmother’s questions he made no reply, and she consequently guessed that something had gone wrong. When Fanny who had gone upstairs to dress, returned, Mrs Vallery inquired how Norman had managed to tumble into the mud.