Little Folks (October 1884) / A Magazine for the Young

of landing, and, like hers, was a tiny apartment under the roof, with a ceiling of the bare rafters which supported the tiles. In each was a small wo

attled the casements in a way that would have prevented a town-bred child from sleeping, and up in those bare rooms there was cold enough to pinch you black and blue;

ovens than anything else. Duncan had scarcely taken off his jacket when he heard Elsie calling. He ran to see

t was it you said? There wasn't anything to tell tales abou

d of her words. "It's a good thing I'm not such a silly baby as you are," she said, contemptuously-a way in which she so

t which covered her down on to the floor. "Why should I be poked up he

e he always does," Du

ied Elsie. "And w

e he's the youngest, and was the baby when y

t anything of the sort," she cried; "and you mi

d me," Duncan said,

ve told the truth," Elsie said shortly. "Hush! there's som

the steep stairs, and presently

r the bedstead, answering as he did

ide of the bed, and gave Duncan a

for?" he st

nse into your head," Elsie replied, angrily. "Supposing it had been mother. A nice row you'd have

s grandmother's v

d the voice agai

to notice that he was in a forbidden place, but asked, with a

Duncan repli

d and never done it before, and Elsie's a wilful child, with a spiri

Duncan replied. "Elsie don't lik

in a much more cheerful tone than she had used before. "But Duncan, my laddie, hav

t never picked up a p

ow, think if you picked it up and threw it in th

t at all," sai

t that mother was angry with Elsie, but it wa

t the milk," Duncan

"You needn't talk about the paper I've lost, Duncan. It's safe enough in the fire, no doubt; but if you

airs, feeling the way with her thick sti

duty, and Duncan well knew she would not be overborne by any one. So it was with a vague uneasiness that he put on his clothes and went downstairs. To his surprise and relief, Elsie was already in the kitchen and was busily,

tly they were outside the door, she said in a careless tone, "It's nice and coo

afternoon?" asked simpl

nds upon whether I feel inclined. Duncan, what w

iece up with writing on it, and said

u won't ever get the penny, Duncan, so don't e

Elsie? because I'll take it to her, an

temptuously. "I wonder whether you

ed doubt. "I never told tales of yo

the window-sill; she was saying very funny things to herself. 'Meg shouldn't have done it; she wouldn't take my advice. Ah! she'll rue it some day, I well believe,' and all on like that. Of course Meg means mother, and I was just wondering what it was she was talking about, when the wind blew quite a puff, and blew the piece of paper right on to my garden. I was just going to peep at it, and see what it was mother shouldn't have done. Then granny gets up, and goes peering all round to see where the pap

now, Elsie?" Duncan a

nd it's much more interesting than I tho

a matter-of-fact mind, and was always co

hy he has new things much oftener than you, and you're older too. Do you and me have boots an

thfully. "He's ever so mu

uch a thing as that? Didn't I always say I'd love a long feather like the ladies at the manse? and why sh

e just a lady

t a bonny lady," she said over to herself; "and

's like, Elsie," Dunc

st and porridge for supper. It would be like--everything that's nice," she said, after a minute or two's paus