reason that it should not burn you; and if you don't know that dirt breeds fever, that is no reason why the fevers should not kill you. The lobster did not know that there was any harm in getting into the lobster pot; but it caught him all the same." "Dear me," thought Tom, "she knows everything!" And so she did, indeed. "And so, if you do not know that things are wrong, that is no reason why you should not be punished for them; though not as much, not as much, my little man" (and the lady looked very kindly, after all), "as if you did know." "Well, you are a little hard on a poor lad," said Tom. "Not at all; I am the best friend you ever had in all your life. But I will tell you; I cannot help punishing people when they do wrong. I like it no more than they do; I am often very, very sorry for them, poor things; but I cannot help it. If I tried not to do it, I should do it all the same. For I work by machinery, just like an engine; and am full of wheels and springs inside; and am wound up very carefully, so that I cannot help going." "Was it long ago since they wound you up?" asked Tom. For he thought, the cunning little fellow, "She will run down some day; or they may forget to wind her up, as old Grimes used to forget to wind up his watch when he came in from the public house; and then I shall be safe." "I was wound up once and for all, so long ago, that I forget all about it." "Dear me," said Tom, "you must have been made a long time!" "I never was made, my child; and I shall go forever and ever; for I am as old as Eternity, and yet as young as Time." And there came over the lady's face a very curious expression - very solemn, and very sad; and yet very, very sweet. And she looked up and away, as if she were gazing through the sea, and through the sky, at something far, far off; and as she did so, there came such a quiet, tender, patient, hopeful smile over her face that Tom thought for the moment that she did not look ugly at all. And no more she did; for she was like a great many people who have not a pretty feature in their faces, and yet are lovely to behold, and draw little children's hearts. to them at once; because though the house is plain enough, yet from the windows a beautiful and good spirit is looking forth. And Tom smiled in her face, she looked so pleasant for the moment. And the strange fairy smiled too, and said: "Yes. You thought me very ugly just now, did you not?" Tom hung down his head, and got very red about the ears. "And I am very ugly. I am the ugliest fairy in the world; and I shall be, till people behave themselves as they ought to do. And then I shall grow as handsome as my sister, who is the loveliest fairy in the world; and her name is Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby. So she begins where I end, and I begin where she ends; and those who will not listen to her must listen to me, as you will see. (From "WESTWARD HO") AMYAS THROWS HIS SWORD IN THE SEA AMYAS paced the sloppy deck fretfully and fiercely. He knew that the Spaniard could not escape; but he cursed every moment which lingered between him and that one great revenge which blackened all his soul. The men sat sulkily about the deck, and whistled for a wind; the sails flapped idly against the masts; and the ship rolled in the long troughs of the sea, till her yard-arm almost dipped right and left. "Take care of those guns. You will have something loose next," growled Amyas. "We will take care of the guns, if the Lord will take care of the wind," said Yeo. "We shall have plenty before night," said Cary, "and thunder too." "So much the better," said Amyas. "It may roar till it splits the heavens, if it does but let me get my work done." "He's not far off, I warrant," said Cary. "One lift of the cloud, and we should see him." "To windward of us, as likely as not," said Amyas. "The devil fights for him, I believe. To have been on his heels sixteen days, and not sent this through him yet!" And he shook his sword impatiently. |