nes in the water,
stepped from the edge of the pond, and marching boldly up to Miss Bruce,
as boldly asked her, "what business she had to tease the little lady?"

"Do you think, Sir, I shall answer a rude, vulgar boy like you?"

The boy looked at her with contempt, and stooping to Isabella, said,
"Do, little lady, tell me what this great girl is holding your frock
for?"

"She wants me to go with her for cakes, and I want to learn my lessons."

"O, you are the ladies, then, from the great school! I thought I had
seen you before. I see how it is; this great girl is like Jack Ranger;
she wants to get you into a scrape, that you may be marked as well as
herself! But I'll defend you, never fear! It is not a crab-stick that
can frighten me! Come with me, and see who dares to hinder us!" He now
caught her hand, and tried to draw her from her companion.

"You shall not go with her, against your mind, were she as big as
Hercules! We are English, and are not to be conquered." Miss Bruce
suddenly let go her companion's frock, and gave the boy a violent slap
upon the face. "Go home, you little ragged creature, mend your coat, and
do not talk to ladies."

The boy instantly recovered himself from the blow; and looking at Miss
Bruce with scorn, exclaimed, "I am not a mender of old clothes, Miss!
Take that for your pains, and your boarding-school manners!"

The blow he returned made blood to gush violently from Miss Bruce's
nose. Isabella screamed; the children cried out, "very well, Tom! I
would not be you for something."

A pretty woman, but with a stern countenance, now came forth from the
cottage, and asked what the rout was about.

"Only our Tom and the lady boxing," cried the children.

"For shame of yourself, Sir! How dare you behave so to your betters?"

"I would have struck her," said the boy, sullenly, "had she been as tall
as the steeple, and as great as King George But come, little Miss, with
me, and let that great girl do what she likes."

He now ran off with Isabella.

"Very well, Sir! but I shall tell your father of this, or my name's not
Grace Johnson! But come into the cottage, Miss; and let us see what we
can do with your frock, for it is in a sad state."

Miss Bruce followed the cottager, a little ashamed of her appearance;
but more afraid of consequences. She was, however, one of those
self-willed young ladies, who think upon a thing one moment, and act
upon it the next.

When Isabella and her cham