Fanny said nothing, she hoped that her brother would manfully confess what he had done, that she might then be better able to plead for him. Instead of doing so he snatched his hand away from that of his grandmamma and ran off along the walk. Fanny had then most reluctantly to confess that her brother had dug up her garden.
“Do not be angry with him, granny,” she said, “he is very very young, and he thought I had ill-treated him by not making his garden as nice as mine was. He did not understand that I fancied he would like to arrange it himself, but John has promised to put it in order, and I hope to-morrow that mine will be as nice as ever, and that Norman’s will be like it, so pray say no more to him about it.”
“I will do as you wish, Fanny,” answered Mrs Leslie, “but I cannot allow your brother, young as he is, to behave in the same way again.”
Mrs Vallery was greatly grieved at discovering what Norman had done, at the same time she was much pleased to hear the way Fanny pleaded for her young brother, and she could not resist stooping down and kissing her again and again while the tears came into her eyes.
“O mother! you have indeed made her all I can wish,” she said, turning to Mrs Leslie.
“Not I, my dear Mary, I did but what God tells us to do in His Word; I corrected her faults as I discovered them, and have ever sought guidance from Him. But His Holy Spirit has done the work which no human person could accomplish.”
Norman, conscience-stricken, had hidden himself in the shrubbery. The rest of the party supposing that he had run into the house, continued their walk, and after taking a few turns in the shady avenue they went in-doors.
Mrs Norton, Fanny’s governess, having just then arrived she set to work on her lessons, while her mamma and Mrs Leslie went to the drawing-room.
“I am afraid, mamma, that you must think Norman a very naughty boy,” said Mrs Vallery, “I have spoken to him very often about his conduct, and as yet I see no improvement.”
“I have hopes that he will at all events learn that he must not tell stories,” observed Mrs Leslie, “and if your husband takes the same means that he did this morning to teach him what is wrong he will by degrees learn what he must not do. It is far more difficult to teach a child what it ought to do, though I trust the good example set by our dear Fanny will have its due effect, while we must continue to pray without ceasing that the heart of your child may be changed.”