“You did it! I know you did! You buried her when she was not dead—though you had cut her head off—you naughty, wicked, bad boy,” cried Fanny bestowing several slaps on her brother’s face ere she rushed forward to pick up her doll.
Fanny’s tears fell fast while she endeavoured to brush off the black earth from poor Miss Lucy’s face, and shook her muslin frock; but still a great deal of earth remained about her hair, and in her eyes and mouth. Poor Fanny lost all control of herself as she gazed at the sad spectacle. Norman stood by unmoved though he did not like the boxes on the ears he had received. Again Fanny flew at him and repeated her blows, when Trusty began to bark, eager to assist his young mistress, and very sure that she was doing right.
Norman on this, taking fright, ran along the path towards the house as fast as he could go, Trusty barking at his heels, and Fanny following him. The boy shrieked as he ran, crying louder and louder.
His voice reached his mamma’s ears, and she hurried out, fearing that some accident had happened. Mrs Leslie also came out; and at the same moment Captain Vallery arrived. Norman rushed up to them, shrieking out that Trusty was going to bite him, and that Fanny had been beating him black and blue.
Fanny came up directly afterwards, the tears dropping from her eyes, her face flushed, and still bearing the traces of her unusual anger, while her sobs prevented her from explaining what had happened, or defending herself. All she could do, was to hold up her doll, and point to Norman.
“He did it, he did it!” then her tears gushed forth afresh.
“She beat me, she beat me!” retorted Norman.
“I am afraid you both have been very naughty,” said Mrs Vallery.
“You know I never allow Norman to be beaten except by me,” observed Captain Vallery.
Mrs Leslie, who had more confidence in Fanny than her own parents had, said—