nd all
through you, you little tiresome puppy?'

George and Ellen looked at each other for a moment. Had they not been
well instructed to abhor a lie, and speak the truth, the temptation was
a strong one, and they might have yielded to it; but they knew that
although they might deceive the servant, there was One who could not be
deceived, and by an instantaneous movement of honesty they both at once
exclaimed:

'It was not poor Pompey, Ann; it was----' Here Ellen stopped, unwilling
to accuse her brother; but George with great firmness added: 'It was I,
Ann.'

'Well, it's a sad business,' said Ann, 'but I dare say my mistress will
not be very angry. I am sure I should not have known but what it was
Pompey;' and in saying this Ann, who was herself a good well-principled
girl, silently resolved that her mistress should certainly know how the
young gentleman and lady 'scorned,' as she said, 'to tell a lie.'

Pompey was now removed, and George and Ellen were again left together.
Ellen picked up the broken pieces, and then asked George if he had not
better go and dress himself. 'His nice clean trousers,' she said, 'were
quite green and dirty from rubbing about upon the grass, and the flue of
the carpet was come off upon his jacket.' George, however, was not yet
quite himself, though he was very much softened by the last misfortune.
Ellen then asked him if she should get some quiet play for him--maps,
puzzles, or bricks? But nothing would go right with George this day; all
Ellen's efforts to amuse him were in vain, and at length he resolved
upon going out of doors again. Ellen reminded him that mother had
recommended him to stay indoors.

'Yes, but she did not order me,' said George; 'besides, I think I ought
to go down and ask how Tom Fletcher is, for I gave him that horrible
blow in his face.'

'But you could not help it, I am sure,' said Ellen.

'I did not do it on purpose,' said George, 'but I did it in a passion,
and that is as bad.'

'Oh, this unlucky day,' said Ellen, 'and this morning I thought you so
happy, but I think you had better stay till evening before you go down
to Mr. Fletcher's. I am sure mother thought you had better stay quiet
this morning, and mother is always so kind.'

George felt all this, and went out of the room, and returned into it
several times, from irresolution and dissatisfaction with himself. He
kissed Ellen, and told her not to mind his being cross, upon which she
threw her arm ac