CHAPTER V. THE UNCLE

ouragedTom’spropensitytopersecutethelowercreation,bothbypreceptandexample.Ashefrequentlycametocourseorshootoverhisbrother-in-law’sgrounds,hewouldbringhisfavouritedogswithhimandhetreatedthemsobrutallythat,poorasIwas,Iwouldhavegivenasovereignanydaytoseeoneofthembitehim,providedtheanimalcouldhavedoneitwithimpunity.Sometimes,wheninaverycomplacentmood,hewouldgoa-birds’-nestingwiththechildren,athingthatirritatedandannoyedmeexceedinglyas,byfrequentandperseveringattempts,IflatteredmyselfIhadpartlyshownthemtheevilofthispastime,andhoped,intime,tobringthemtosomegeneralsenseofjusticeandhumanitybuttenminutes’birds’-nestingwithuncleRobson,orevenalaughfromhimatsomerelationoftheirformerbarbarities,wassufficientatoncetodestroytheeffectofmywholeelaboratecourseofreasoningandpersuasion.Happily,however,duringthatspring,theynever,butonce,gotanythingbutemptynests,oreggs—beingtooimpatienttoleavethemtillthebirdswerehatchedthatonce,Tom,whohadbeenwithhisuncleintotheneighbouringplantation,camerunninginhighgleeintothegarden,withabroodoflittlecallownestlingsinhishands.MaryAnnandFanny,whomIwasjustbringingout,rantoadmirehisspoils,andtobegeachabirdforthemselves.“No,notone!”criedTom.“They’reallmineuncleRobsongavethemtome—one,two,three,four,five—youshan’ttouchoneofthem!no,notone,foryourlives!”continuedhe,exultinglylayingthenestontheground,andstandingoveritwithhislegswideapart,hishandsthrustintohisbreeches-pockets,hisbodybentforward,andhisfacetwistedintoallmannerofcontortionsintheecstasyofhisdelight. “Butyoushallseemefettle’emoff.Myword,butIwillwallop’em?SeeifIdon’tnow.Bygum!butthere’sraresportformeinthatnest.” “But,Tom,”saidI,“Ishallnotallowyoutotorturethosebirds.Theymusteitherbekilledatonceorcarriedbacktotheplaceyoutookthemfrom,thattheoldbirdsmaycontinuetofeedthem.” “Butyoudon’tknowwherethatis,Madam:it’sonlymeanduncleRobsonthatknowsthat.” “Butifyoudon’ttellme,Ishallkillthemmyself—muchasIhateit.” “Youdaren’t.Youdaren’ttouchthemforyourlife!becauseyouknowpapaandmamma,anduncleRobson,wouldbeangry.Ha,ha!I’vecaughtyouthere,Miss!” “IshalldowhatIthinkrightinacaseofthissortwithoutconsultinganyone.Ifyourpapaandmammadon’thappentoapproveofit,Ishallbesorrytooffe