Curse me, if ever I saw a nobler little scoundrel than that.

He's beyond petticoat government already: by God! he defies mother, granny, governess, and all! Ha, ha, ha! Never mind, Tom, I'll get you another brood to-morrow.' 'If you do, Mr.Robson, I shall kill them too,' said I.
'Humph!' replied he, and having honoured me with a broad stare--which, contrary to his expectations, I sustained without flinching--he turned away with an air of supreme contempt, and stalked into the house.

Tom next went to tell his mamma.

It was not her way to say much on any subject; but, when she next saw me, her aspect and demeanour were doubly dark and chilled.

After some casual remark about the weather, she observed--'I am sorry, Miss Grey, you should think it necessary to interfere with Master Bloomfield's amusements; he was very much distressed about your destroying the birds.' 'When Master Bloomfield's amusements consist in injuring sentient creatures,' I answered, 'I think it my duty to interfere.' 'You seemed to have forgotten,' said she, calmly, 'that the creatures were all created for our convenience.' I thought that doctrine admitted some doubt, but merely replied--'If they were, we have no right to torment them for our amusement.' 'I think,' said she, 'a child's amusement is scarcely to be weighed against the welfare of a soulless brute.' 'But, for the child's own sake, it ought not to be encouraged to have such amusements,' answered I, as meekly as I could, to make up for such unusual pertinacity.