"Tillie gave it to me."
"You know you oughtn't to eat between meals." A nod. "Did you go in the house?"
A shake of the head.
"Not once? Speak out loud, Sara dear, and tell the truth."
At this with deep conviction Sara said:
"Not once in the house."
Sara had committed all the crimes of childhood at once in a broad reckless fashion. She had lied, she had disobeyed, she had eaten between meals. But she had sinned in a mean, sly spirit. When confronted with the truth she said Tillie had made her come in.
It was this that disgusted her parents.
Robert would have out with it like a man, whatever it was, they agreed.
Of course she had to be punished.
The next time she was allowed to go to the house next door she vanished again. When Alice went for her she ran toward her, saying blithely,
"I was in the house, Mother."
Alice didn't know what to do. Sara had disobeyed, but told the truth about it. Alice did not wish to nip the frail blossom of truth in the bud. Next day Sara vanished again.
"Oh, will she never learn!" cried her anguished mother.
Again by the time Alice got there, Sara was in the front yard.
"Were you in the house again?" cried Alice.
"Yes," replied Sara raising fearless eyes to her mother.
"What makes you say that, Sara," said Mrs. Williams from the window. "You weren't in the house. You haven't been in the house since your mother punished
