"That was awkward of you, but as they appear dry, you might have come in to see us all as soon as you returned," observed Mrs Vallery; "how did you manage to tumble down?" "That stupid little brat Robby ran after me, and Fanny would not come home. I can take very good care of myself, and so I don't want her to go out with me any more." "I am afraid, Norman, you were not behaving well. I must learn from Fanny what occurred," said Mrs Vallery. "I will assist you to change your clothes; these are certainly not fit to appear in at dinner." Norman was very taciturn while his mamma was dressing him. As soon as she had done so she led him downstairs. To his grandmother's questions he made no reply, and she consequently guessed that something had gone wrong. When Fanny who had gone upstairs to dress, returned, Mrs Vallery inquired how Norman had managed to tumble into the mud. "I wish to have the whole account from you, Fanny, for his is not very clear," she observed. "He says that little Robby ran after him." "Oh, how can you say that?" exclaimed Fanny indignantly. "If it had not been for little Robby you know perfectly well that you might have lost your life;" and then without hesitation she gave the exact account of what had occurred. "I am deeply grieved to find that instead of expressing your gratitude to the little fellow, you should have wished to throw blame upon him," said Mrs Leslie, looking very grave as she spoke; "you were wrong in running away without your sister, but that fault might easily have been overlooked. I feel ashamed of acknowledging you as my grandson in the presence of my old friend here, and I grieve that they should find you capable of acting so base a part." Norman could say nothing in his defence. He did not like being scolded by his grandmamma as he called it, but still he did not see his behaviour in its proper light, and instead of being sorry, he felt only vexed and angry and more than ever disposed to vent his ill-feeling on Fanny. His poor mamma was very unhappy, but she did not know what to say to him more than what his grandmamma had already said. "I will talk to him in his room by-and-by, and point out to him the sin he has committed," she observed to Mrs Leslie. The laird soon after came in, and the party went to dinner. He saw that something was wrong, but refrained from asking questions. Norman ate his dinner in silence, and no one felt disposed to speak to him. He did not like this, and it made him feel more and more angry with Fanny.