Page:The Rejuvenation Of Miss Semaphore.pdf/78

 the horrible position you have placed us both in? You took too much. You must have been a nasty, greedy, selfish, foolish thing to have swallowed up all that water, or this would never have happened. Are you really my sister? How can I prove it? Who will believe me? Perhaps the next thing will be that I shall be hanged for having murdered her." At this thought Prudence was for a moment on the verge of fresh hysterics.

"What on earth am I to do? There you are, a baby to all intents and purposes. My good gracious! what on earth shall I do with you? I cannot keep you in this house. How can I explain? They won't believe me—why, I wouldn't believe it myself if anyone told me. How shall I account for your disappearance? and you can't even speak to back me up if I tell the truth. Not you! You'd see me hanged and never say a word"—which was unjust, considering poor Augusta was not able to speak. Lashing herself to fury, Prudence paced up and down the room, wringing her hands.

"Augusta! I always was a good sister to you, and bore with your tempers, and divided everything with you; but now, you horrid,