Page:Margaret Sherwood--A Puritan in Bohemia.djvu/162

154 "There, don't cry," said the young man. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. You haven't told any lies about me, I know."

"Yes I have," howled Annabel.

"What?"

"I told Miss Wistar and Miss Bradford things because I liked you. I told them how good you was."

"Is that a lie?"

"I told 'em how you brought things home for us, and how one day you was a-bringing home a mop and pail, and you had a high silk hat on. And an old gentleman came along and you said, 'You wouldn't do things like this for poor people!'"

The young man shouted with laughter, then became suddenly grave. Annabel was on the qui vive. Confession was almost as dramatic an experience as lying.

"Tell me what else you've done," said Mr. Stanton sternly. "Have you told Miss Bradford any more things that aren't true?"