"Nonsense!" said Fanny laughing, "it is entirely your own fault, strike
the tail more gently and keep your eye on the ball, you will be able to
hit it."

Once more he tried, but instead of hitting the trap more gently, Norman
used greater force, and consequently upset it, and looking to see what
had happened, instead of keeping his eyes on the ball, the latter in
falling hit him slightly on the head; this was enough for him, and when
Fanny, laughing, was coming up to him, altogether losing his temper he
threw the bat at her with all his force. It fortunately missed her
head, but striking her on the shoulder hurt her very much.

"O Norman, how could you do that!" she exclaimed, seizing him by the
arm. "I was only going to show you how to use the bat, and you might
have killed me," she said, naturally feeling very angry with him. "You
naughty, naughty boy!"

Norman lifted up his fist as if about to strike her, Fanny seized his
other arm, he struggled to free himself. At that moment Mrs Vallery
came out of the house.

"What are you children about?" she asked. "Fanny my dear, what are you
doing to your little brother?"

"She was laughing at me," cried out Norman, "and because I was angry,
she is pinching me all over."

"Indeed, I am not," said Fanny, and though an instant before she had
felt very angry with Norman, having overcome the feeling, she did not
like to say that he had thrown the bat at her.

"I laughed at him, mamma, merely because he missed the ball so often,
and when I came near him he wanted to hit me."

"And I did hit you," cried Norman, "and I will hit you again if you
laugh at me," and again he struggled to get free.

"My dear Fanny, you should have more consideration for your little
brother," remarked Mrs Vallery, coming up to them.

Fanny let go her hold of Norman, who gave a vicious kick out at her as
she did so, and ran to his mamma's side.

Poor Fanny felt inclined to cry at the rebuke she had received, and yet
she would not excuse herself by saying what Norman had done. That young
gentleman, considering he had gained a triumph, shouted out--

"Now you may go and play by yourself, I do not want to have anything
more to do with the stupid trap and bat."

"It is very ungrateful in you to say that, Norman, after your papa
brought it down expressly for you," said Mrs Vallery. "Stay and play
on, and try if you cannot do better; and, Fanny, let me ask you not to
laugh at the little fel