elf, that is, if you dare to do so--for your brother is there,
and Mary and a dozen more girls. Do you dare?" she inquired mockingly,
"come let me see you do it, then."

"Dare," repeated Marten indignantly, "and why should I not dare--I want
my brother."

"Do it then," said Jane, "if you are not a coward, which I strongly
suspect you are;" and when was a spirited boy of thirteen so urged on
that had the prudence to know where to stop with propriety to himself.
Marten, choking with rage, did advance to the door pointed out, and put
his head inside, and there, on beholding a group of young ladies of all
ages, from eight to fourteen, and no little brother, and finding all
eyes turned upon himself as an impertinent intruder, he drew his head
back quickly, and was met with a loud laugh from Jane, which so annoyed
him, that without stopping to think, he ran off to his own room as fast
as he could. The voice of Mary Roscoe however reached him as he ran
along the gallery, uttering these words: "I'll take care of Reuben,
Master Marten--I'll take care of Reuben, he is very happy." And so
Marten allowed himself to be content, and as he knew dinner would
shortly be ready, he lost no more time, but set to dress himself in his
best as quickly as he could. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson did not dine with the
young people, but Mrs. Jameson came in and walked round the table, and
spoke to most of the young ladies and gentlemen, and asked after their
papas and mammas, and she said she hoped they would be good children and
enjoy themselves very much, and in the evening she and Mr. Jameson would
come in to see them at play. She told Jane Roscoe she expected her and
Mary to take care of the young ladies and see that they had everything
they wanted, and she said much the same to her son and William Roscoe
about the boys.

There was a very long dining table laid out, and, as might be expected,
all the boys got together at the end where Edward sat, and all the
girls got round Jane Roscoe, for it must be remembered that hostilities
had begun in the morning between the boys and girls, and Jane was not
the kind of girl to make peace, or desire to make peace and conduct
herself as would be becoming a young lady. Frank Farleigh, indeed,
crossed the barrier, and once again demanded his cap from his sister,
but he pleaded in vain, and I do not know how the matter would have been
settled if good-natured Mary Roscoe had not proposed that it should be
consider