m the
unpleasant lesson," answered Mrs Vallery.

"I did not intend to hurt his feelings, and will find him and try to
comfort him as well as I can," said Fanny, putting up her work.

Fanny found Norman just going into his room to get ready for tea. "I am
so sorry I laughed when you told us about the fish just now, Norman,"
she said putting her hand on his arm; "I did not intend to laugh at you,
but only at what you said."

"I do not see why you should have laughed at all, I don't like it, and
won't stand it, and you had better not do it again," he answered,
tearing himself away from her, and running into his room. She attempted
to follow, but he slammed the door in her face, and shot the bolt, so
that she could not enter.

"My dear brother, do listen to me, I am very very sorry to have offended
you, and will not, if I can help it, laugh at you again," she said, much
grieved at his petulant behaviour.

Norman made no answer, but she heard him stamping about in his room and
knocking over several things.

Finding all her efforts vain, she got ready for tea, and went to the
dining-room, where that meal was spread in Highland fashion.

Norman who was hungry, at last made his appearance. He went to his seat
without speaking or even looking at her. Mr Maclean who knew nothing
of what had passed, talked to him in his usual kind way, and promised to
take him out the next morning that he might commence his lessons in
fly-fishing. Norman being thus treated, was perfectly satisfied with
himself, and considered that Fanny alone was to blame for the
ill-feeling in which he allowed himself to indulge towards her. She
made several attempts to get him to speak, but to no purpose.

How sad it was that Norman should have been able to place his head on
his pillow and not experience any feeling of compunction at doing so
without being reconciled to his gentle sister.

Next morning he was up betimes, and went off soon after breakfast with
Mr Maclean to the loch.

Fanny amused herself for some time with her little bird. It now knew
her so well that when she opened the door of its cage, it would fly out
as she called it, and come and perch on her finger, and when she put
some crumbs on the table, it would hop forward, turning its head about,
and pick them up one after the other, watching lest any stranger should
approach. If any one entered the room it immediately came close up to
Fanny, or perched on her hand, and seemed t