Then Sam appeared and looked reproachfully at me, and spoke to Ross, and I heard the words ’arm’ and something about ’taking more care.’ Ross looked through Sam in that disgusting way he has when he isn’t pleased, and said,— ’I can’t go through the house like this, Meg; why do you have your tubs lined with green. Get me a bath, Brown.’ ’Cold, sir?’ ’How can I get this stuff off in cold? Hot, of course,’ snapped his master, ’and ask the Titmouse for the ladder, Brown, and I’ll go through the bathroom window.’ As I went upstairs a little later, Ross’s door was slightly open; Sam was catching it. King’s Regulations and the Hickley Woods wrestling for the mastery. ’You’ll excuse me, sir, you don’t take care.’ Then my brother’s voice floated towards me down the passage. ’No, I’ll not excuse you, Brown. I’ve had too much cheek from you the last ten minutes! Get me a shirt. If you mention my arm again in front of Mrs Ellsley, you’ll quit. Now my coat. Do you call this brushed? Now a handkerchief, and get out.’ Then as he remembered that he was now promoted to a sling he added stormily,— ’Understand once for all, I will not be fussed over like a schoolgirl, I’m not a sucking dove.’ ’Oh, no, sir,’ said Brown, and I caught a flicker of amusement on his impassive countenance as he closed the door behind him with the wet clothes on his arm. Just then the carrier brought a crate of hens and a box of rabbits from Aunt Constance. We felt rather like Noah when the animals began to file into the ark. The hens were the breed that have the very large combs. ’My ’Ilda’ remarked as they were put into their run,— ’My! you won’t get many eggs from them, mum, they’re all cocks.’ The Gidger loved the rabbits and I told her how the mother bunny would presently have some little ones, and that she would love them very much and make a warm nest for them, and pull off her own soft fur to keep her babies warm. I want my little daughter to know of all the wonderful protective instincts God has implanted in His creatures and the sweet provision that He makes for all the tiny things. Just before dinner we flew down the village to buy some bran for the new arrivals. On our return my brother did one of his atrocious lightning changes. When Sam let us in Ross said,— ’Thanks, Sam, any letters?’ and then ’Knee bad?’ ’Pretty middling, sir.’ ’Go and put it up, then. What are you about on it for?’ ’It’ll be time enough to put it up after dinner, sir. I _must_ wait at table to-night, the parlour-maid is out.’ The atmosphere in the hall became suddenly arctic. I shivered as the cold of it blew into me. I could feel Ross looking through Sam as he asked coldly,— ’Did you intend to say "must" to me, Brown?’ And Brown said,— ’No, sir,’ and did not appear at dinner. I sent him up a book and two Cox’s oranges, so I had to continue ’My ’Ilda’s’ education in the art of waiting.