Part 8 (2/2)
For some time after this there was a marked improvement in little Bunny's behaviour, and everyone in the house was delighted with the change, and rejoiced over it in a very open manner.
”It is perfectly wonderful!” said Mrs. Dashwood; ”our little troublesome is becoming quite a well-behaved young person. I feel very grateful to you, Miss Kerr, for I believe it is all owing to your tender care and kind good-nature that the child is improving so much.”
”I don't think I have so much to do with the change as little Mervyn,” answered Miss Kerr with a smile. ”I have lectured poor Bunny very often, it is true, but I think a good obedient little friend does a child more real good than all the scoldings and lectures in the world.”
”Yes, I daresay it is an excellent thing,” replied Mrs. Dashwood; ”but still I think your lectures and sermons have improved my poor darling a great deal. She was very ignorant when you came to look after her.”
”Yes, she was,” said Miss Kerr; ”she did not know much, poor child, and what was worse, did not care to learn anything. But lately she has begun to get on very nicely. And there, again, you see it is Mervyn who has done her good, for her whole ambition is to do everything better than he does it.”
”The little rogue!” exclaimed Mrs. Dashwood laughing. ”Well, it is a good thing to have found a way to make her work. Where is she now, I wonder?”
”Mr. Dashwood took her off with him to the stables. Mervyn went too, as it seems there is a pleasant surprise awaiting them there. They both went off laden with bread for Frisk.”
”I think I can guess what the surprise is,” said Mrs. Dashwood with a smile; ”I--”
”Oh, mama, mama! we are glad! we are glad!” cried Bunny bursting suddenly into the room, followed by Mervyn with a radiant look of happiness on his little white face. ”What do you think? Guess what has happened. Just guess what papa has given Mervyn.”
”Dear aunt, it was so kind of uncle to buy me such a--”
”Let her guess--let her guess, Mervyn. Don't tell her what he bought you. Miss Kerr, what did papa buy for him? Something living, something with a tail, something with a nose, a dear velvety nose and a soft silky coat,” cried Bunny, as she danced up and down the drawing-room in high glee.
”A kitten,” said Miss Kerr gravely.
”A kitten! oh, the idea!” exclaimed Bunny, ”as if people bought kittens.”
”Something far nicer!” said Mervyn in a voice full of pleasure.
”I'll tell her, Bunny, something to ride--”
”No, no, don't tell, don't tell!” cried the little girl, laying her hand quickly over his mouth. ”Mama, guess, guess.”
”A pony, Bun, a little brown pony,” said Mrs. Dashwood, smiling brightly upon the eager excited children.
”You dear clever mamey, that's just what it is,” exclaimed Bunny, giving her mother an affectionate hug. ”And Mervyn's so pleased, and I am so glad, and oh, it will be so nice going out to ride together!” and jumping up sideways on the arm of the sofa the little girl began to work herself about as if she were really on Frisk's back and trotting along a country road.
”My dear Bunny, please don't,” cried Mrs. Dashwood, as she felt the sofa upon which she was lying, shaken up and down by the child's vigorous antics. ”Please don't, dear, you hurt me very much.”
”Oh, I am so sorry!” cried Bunny bounding quickly down from her perch, and holding her face up for a pardoning kiss. ”But won't it be nice, mama? Frisk is so glad to have a friend in the stable with him, and it will be fun for me to have Mervyn to ride with.”
”Yes, it will be very nice, dear. But, Bunny, you talk so much that Mervyn never gets saying a word. Tell me, my dear, do you really like your pony?”
”Oh, yes, aunt, I am delighted with him, he is so pretty. It was very good of uncle to buy him for me.”
”And you will not be afraid to ride him, I hope,” she said with a smile.
”No, I think not, at least not if we go along quietly. But Bunny says she will make Frisk go awfully fast, and then my pony will run after him, and that she is sure I shall be frightened and hold on by the mane and--”
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