“I want the things now,” said Norman; “everybody is trying to vex me.”
“Go to bed, you are tired,” said Captain Vallery soothingly. “Here, Fanny come and take the poor child off, I see that he has been sitting up too long.”
Norman, indeed, looked flushed and ill, and Fanny hoped that after a night’s rest, he would recollect his promise to try and behave well. Though he still resisted, she managed to lead him from the room.
“Leave me alone, Fanny,” he exclaimed, as soon as they reached the drawing-room. “I don’t want to go to bed, I had some sleep this afternoon, I have as much right to sit up as anybody else has,” and again he struck out at her.
“My dear Norman, have you already forgotten the promises you made to be a good boy?” she said gently. “Oh, do try and restrain your temper.”
“I did not say I would be good, if people were ill-natured to me, and granny and Mrs Maclean wanted to stop me from having dessert, and I should have liked some more, and the laird would have given it me, if it had not been for them,” he answered petulantly. “I never liked old women, and I do not like them now.”
“Hush, hush, Norman,” cried Fanny horrified, and fearing that they might overhear him. “Do go to bed quietly, and I will come and help you if mamma will let me.”
Mrs Vallery who had come from the farther end of the room, observing that Norman looked flushed and angry, although she had not heard what he had said, thought it advisable without further delay to carry him off to bed. He resisted, however, and said he was not sleepy and would not go.
Mrs Maclean now came to his mamma’s assistance. She had no notion of a little boy behaving as Norman was doing. “Hoity, toity, young gentleman, I cannot have you treat your mamma in this way in my house, so come along this instant, and do not let me hear another word from you.”
Norman looked very angry at Mrs Maclean, but he obeyed her, for he had sense enough left to know that he had better do as she bid him, for fear she should tell his papa how he had treated Fanny’s bird.