" Well he might say so, considering how full were John's
mouth, hands, and pockets.
"And Davie has had nothing!" said kind Susan. "Here, Davie!" holding
out to him an amber-like piece of barley-sugar.
"I don't want your stuff," said David roughly. "You've spent all
away from the pig."
"No, Davie, indeed, only twopence," said Susan; "pray have a bit."
"You might at least say thank you," said Miss Fosbrook.
But how difficult is that middle road which is the only right one!
David, being too much set on one single purpose, good though it was,
could see nothing else. It was right and generous to abstain from
sweets with this end in view; but it was wrong to be rude and
unthankful to the sister who meant all so kindly, and was the most
unselfish of all. She turned round to Elizabeth with the kind offer
of the dainty she had not even tasted herself, but was not more
graciously treated.
"How can you, Susie? it is all pulled about with your fingers."
This was a matter on which the Misses and Masters Merrifield were not
wont to be particular; and with one of the teasing laughs that Bessie
hated, Sam exclaimed as Susan turned to him, "Yes, thank you, Sukey,
_I_ don't mind finger sauce," but not before John was stretching out
a hand glazed with sugar, and calling out, "Oh, give it to me!" and
as it disappeared in his brother's mouth, he burst out angrily, "How
cross, Sam! You did that on purpose!"
"Yes," said Sam, "I did; for though pigs on four legs are all very
well, I don't like pigs on two.
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