Excerpt
CHAPTER I.
THE NAUGHTY GIRL.
"Now you will be a good girl, Fanny Jane, while I am gone—won't you?" said Fanny Grant, who has several times before appeared in these stories, to Fanny Jane Grant, her namesake, who has not before been presented to our readers.
"O, yes, Miss Fanny; I will be ever so good; I won't even look wrong," replied Fanny Jane, whose snapping black eyes even then beamed with mischief.
"I am afraid you don't mean what you say," added Miss Fanny, suspiciously.
"Yes, I do; I mean every word of it, and more too."
"You make large promises; and I find when you promise most, you perform least."
"But, certain true as I live, I won't do a single thing this time," protested Fanny Jane. "Won't you believe me?"
"You have deceived me so often that I do not know when to trust you."
"I have turned over a new leaf, and I mean to be just as good as ever I can be."
"If you are not good, Fanny Jane, I shall feel very bad when I return. I have done a great deal for you, and I hope you will think of it if you are tempted to do wrong during my absence. This time, in particular, I wish you to behave very well, and not do any mischief. You know what father says about you?"
"He don't like me," pouted Fanny Jane.
"When you are good he likes you."
"He scolds me all the time."
"He never scolds you; he reproves you when you do wrong, and I am sorry to say that is very often indeed. He says, if you do not behave better, he shall send you back to your uncle at the west."
"I don't want to go there."
"But you must, if you do not do better. He would have sent you before if I had not interceded for you."
"Hadn't what?"
"If I hadn't begged him not to do so."
"I won't be sent back to my uncle's, any how," replied Fanny Jane, sharply; for the intimations of what might be, roused a spirit of resentment, rather than of penitence, in her mind.
"We will not talk about that now, Fanny Jane. We are going to Hudson to spend a week. The strongest objection to our visit was, that you would not behave well while we were gone."
"O, I will behave well!"
"We intend to trust you once more. If you disappoint me this time, I shall not be able to say another word in your favor; and I am quite sure father will send you off to Minnesota just as soon as we get back."
The carriage was waiting at the door; Bertha was already seated, and Fanny, having done all she could to insure the good behavior of the troublesome young miss who had become her peculiar charge, hastened to join her sister, and they were driven away towards the railroad station.
In the two tall and elegant ladies, seated in the Woodville family carriage, our readers would hardly recognize Bertha and Fanny Grant, for eight years have elapsed since they were introduced, as children, to our young friends. Bertha maintains her pure and beautiful character, and is still a blessing to the family, and to the neighborhood in which she resides. Fanny is taller and prettier than her sister; and, having put away her childish follies, she is quite a dignified personage....