their mother."

There was a hubhub with both babies crying again. Mrs. Borden laid
aside her hat and coat and took up Violet, sent Marilla for a pitcher
of milk and both babies were comforted with a drink.

"Sit on the floor and hold them. They're so heavy. Poor sweet
babies."

The sobs ceased after a while. Violet fell asleep, Pansy was bathed
again and grew quieter. The doctor came and said it was a bad fainting
spell but that Mrs. Vanderveers heart was weak from age.

Marilla fixed Pansy's supper, fed her and undressed her, and her
mother laid her in the crib. Then she said--

"You may go and help Bridget a little with the dinner."

Marilla arranged the table and the master of the house came in. Jack
sneaked in, also. Mrs. Henderson staid, so no explanations were made.
Jack was very quiet and behaved beautifully, but he wanted to go to
bed at once. Violet woke and had her supper and quiet was restored.
Then a man came in to consult Mr. Borden about some business.

"It was awful that Jack should go at the babies so," said Mrs. Borden
to her sister.

"I don't know about telling his father. You gave him one
whipping----"

"And a good hard one. I'm afraid of boys getting so used to that mode
of punishment that they don't mind it. But father brought up four boys
in that manner and they have all made nice men. I don't see where Jack
gets his badness from."

Jack's mother sighed. "And yet he can be so lovely."

"I've been considering," rejoined Florence. "Suppose we hold this
over his head for a while. I might talk to him."

"Well, we can try it."

So Aunt Florence talked to him very seriously, and said if he wasn't a
better boy they would have to send him off somewhere in the country
where there were no children. She would not tell his father just now,
but if he ever struck or pinched the babies again she certainly would,
and he would be punished twice over. He must remember that.

He put his arms around her neck, and kissed her. "I'm awful sorry. I
didn't think it hurt so," he said naively.

"Papa will hurt you a great deal more than I did," was her reply.

And then Jack had a sudden accession of goodness. His teacher was
proud of him. How much was due to his pretty face and winsome manner,
one couldn't quite tell, but the nursery had a lovely rest and Marilla
didn't have to watch out every moment.

Mrs. Borden secretly wished the twins were prettier. They were too
fat, and when she tried to diet th