Oscar knew all this, and was very much vexed with Fani for yielding so easily to Emma's persuasions.

And to think of his disappearing so this afternoon, when he had relied on his support at the meeting! It was too provoking! As Oscar drew near home, he came suddenly upon his brother Fred, who was kneeling down in the vegetable garden and digging in the earth with both hands, as if seeking a hidden treasure.
"Where is Emma ?" asked Oscar; adding hurriedly, "Oh, don't touch me with those hands!" "Well, I should scarcely mistake you for a grub, and that's what I want to 'touch' with these hands," said Fred, rather scornfully.

"As to Emma, I don't know where she is; but one thing I do know, and that is that one of you two has carried off all the paper again, so that when a fellow wants to do his exercises he may whistle for it! I know that much." "I haven't used any," said Oscar; "but Emma is getting up some new scheme; I am sure of that, and I suppose she has taken the paper.

I don't know what will happen if somebody doesn't put a stop to her carrying-on!" With which negative kind of a prophecy, Oscar went into the house..