VALLEY

238 RAINBOW VALLEYshe knew, or fancied she knew, Mary considered thatFaith was far too light-hearted. Mary had somethingon her mind to say and she meant to say it before shewent home.Mrs. Elliott had sent her up to the mansewith some new-laid eggs, and had told her not to staylonger than half an hour. The half hour was nearlyup so Mary uncurled her cramped legs from under herand said abruptly,"Never mind about the air. Just you listen to me.You manse young ones have just got to behave betterthan you've been doing this spring that's all there isto it.I just come up to-night a-purpose to tellyou so.The way people are talking about youis awful.""What have we been doing now?" cried Faith inamazement, pulling her arm away from Mary.lip trembled and her sensitive littleUna'ssoul shrank withinher. Mary was always so brutally frank. Jerry beganto whistle out of bravado. He meant to let Mary seehe didn't care for her tirades. Their behaviour wasno business of hers anyway. What right had she tolecture them on their conduct?"Doing now !You're doing all the time," retortedMary. "Just as soon as the talk about one of yourdidos fades away you do something else to start itupagain. It seems to me you haven't any idea of howmanse children ought to behave!""Maybe you can tell us," said Jerry, killingly sarcastic.Sarcasm was quite thrown away on Mary.