“Ye are a braw laddie, ye tak’ your meat,” observed the laird. “Pray, Mrs Vallery, hand me the cakes.”
His mamma made signs to Norman that he should not have asked for them, but he did not attend to her, and when the laird handed him the dish he helped himself to several, and began to eat them up quickly, fearing that they might be taken from him.
“My dear, you will make that child ill,” observed Mrs Maclean, addressing her husband from the other end of the table.
Norman looked round very indignantly at her, and helped himself again.
Mrs Maclean had from the first perceived that Norman was allowed to have too much of his own way. He had discovered this, and was inclined to consider her as his personal enemy. Not content with what he had already obtained, as soon as he had emptied his plate, he helped himself to another cake or two from the plate which the laird had left near him. Mrs Maclean shook her head, and looked at Mrs Leslie.
“Norman, you really must not eat so much,” said his grandmamma.
“I am not eating much,” he answered in an angry tone, forgetting his good resolutions. “You all have had dinner, and it’s very hard that I should be told I must not eat when I am hungry.”
The laird, who was amused at the remark, laughed heartily. “You follow the example of the renowned Captain Dalgetty, and lay in a store when you have the opportunity.”
“Captain Dalgetty was an old soldier of fortune, and never knew when he might next find a meal, and Norman is a little boy, and is very sure to have a sufficient breakfast to-morrow morning,” observed Mrs Leslie, “so pray Mr Maclean, do not let him have any more dessert.”
“Mr Maclean is very kind, and you are all very ill-natured,” exclaimed Norman angrily.