"Another time, Mrs Potts, if you will knock at the door, I will come and talk to you, for, as the mother of children, you must know how necessary it is to preserve discipline amongst the young." "Which well I know it, miss; but I'm that aggravated with that limb of a gal, that if I don't take it out of her I shall be ill." "What is the matter, then!" cried Hazel. "Matter, nuss? Why, everything's the matter when that gal's got her own way. Here did I tell her, only this morning, that, as I'd got to stop at the wash-tub all day, she must stay at home and look after the little bairn, and what does she do but take my scissors and cut off every flower there was, and tie 'em up and slip off. I didn't know where she'd gone to, till all of a sudden I thought it might be to school; and here she is. And now I would like to know what she did with them flowers." "Flowers!" said Hazel, as a thought flashed across her mind. "Well, there now, if that ain't them upon your desk, nuss! That's my love-lies-bleeding, and London-tuft, and roses. Oh, just wait till I get hold on her. Did she bring 'em to you, miss?" "Yes, Mrs Potts; she brought me the nosegay. I am very sorry that she should have done such a thing without asking leave." "I ain't got much about the house that's nice to look at," said the woman, gazing wistfully at the flowers; "and she's been and cutten it all away. But only just wait till I get her home." "Don't punish the girl, Mrs Potts," said Hazel quietly. "I think it was from thoughtlessness. Ophelia knew I was fond of flowers, and brought them for me. I will talk to her about it. Indeed I am very sorry that she should do such a thing." "Well, miss, if so be as you're fond o' flowers, and will give her a good talking to, why I won't say no more about it. Ah, you bad gal!" This was accompanied by a threatening gesture from the stout lady's fist, which, however, did not seem to cause Miss Feelier Potts much alarm, that young personage only looking half defiantly at her parent, and as soon as the latter's eyes were removed, indulging herself by making a few derisive gestures. "You will take the flowers back with you, Mrs Potts. I am very sorry." "Which I just won't, miss, so now then," said the woman sharply. "If you like flowers, miss, you shall have 'em; and if you could make a better gal of that Feelier, I'm sure there ain't nothing I wouldn't do for you. And now, as my water's all getting cold, I must be off!" "But you said that you wished Ophelia to come home and help you. I don't like the girls being kept away, but of course it is her duty to help you at a time like this. Ophelia Potts." "Yes, teacher; please I wasn't talking," said Feelier sharply. "Come here." "No, no, miss, you let her 'bide, and when I'm gone just you give her a good talking to." "And you will not punish her, Mrs Potts?"