Is she always so when she is reprimanded, Katherine ?" "We--we don't reprimand her," admitted Kitty.

"I am afraid she would be if we did," she added honestly.
At that moment Dan burst into the room carrying a bottle.

"If you put some of this on the bruises," he said, offering it to his aunt, "it'll take the pain out like anything.

Jabez has it for the horses, and I've used it too; it is capital stuff." Mrs.Pike looked at the bottle with an eye which for a moment made Kitty quake, for Dan had brought it in with the fine crust of dirt and grease on it that it had accumulated during a long sojourn in the coach-house.
But something, perhaps it was Dan's thoughtfulness, checked the severe remark which had almost burst from her lips.
"Thank you, Daniel," she said, almost graciously.

"If you will ask one of the servants to clean the outside of the bottle, I shall be very glad of the contents, for I feel sure I have bruised myself severely." Betty was about to offer her pocket-handkerchief for the purpose when she remembered that she had not one with her, and so saved herself from further humiliation.
"At what hour do you dine--or sup ?" asked Mrs.Pike, turning to Kitty.
"We have supper at--at--oh, when father is home, or we--or we come home, or--when it is convenient." "Or when the servants choose to get it for you, perhaps," said Aunt Pike sarcastically, but hitting the truth with such nicety that Kitty coloured.