Her father being more than willing to obey, she dressed his hair in her most elaborate manner, brushing it out straight, parting it, winding it over her fingers, sticking it up on end, and constantly falling back on John to get a good look at the effect of it. Who always received her on his disengaged arm, and detained her, while the patient cherub stood waiting to be finished.

“There!” said Bella, when she had at last completed the final touches. “Now, you are something like a genteel boy! Put your jacket on, and come and have your supper.”

The cherub investing himself with his coat was led back to his corner⁠—where, but for having no egotism in his pleasant nature, he would have answered well enough for that radiant though self-sufficient boy, Jack Horner⁠—Bella with her own hands laid a cloth for him, and brought him his supper on a tray. “Stop a moment,” said she, “we must keep his little clothes clean;” and tied a napkin under his chin, in a very methodical manner.