for this kindness rent her heart and made the stolen flower a burden
too heavy to be borne.

"Oh, don't cry so! Are you sick? Have I been rude? Tell me all about
it; and if I can't do anything, mamma can," said Belle, surprised
and troubled.

"No; I'm not sick; I'm bad, and I can't bear it when you are so good
to me," sobbed Lizzie, quite overcome with penitence; and taking out
the crumpled rose, she confessed her fault with many tears.

"Don't feel so much about such a little thing as that," began Belle,
warmly; then checked herself, and added, more soberly, "It WAS wrong
to take it without leave; but it's all right now, and I'll give you
as many roses as you want, for I know you are a good girl."

"Thank you. I didn't want it only because it was pretty, but I
wanted to copy it. I can't get any for myself, and so I can't do my
make-believe ones well. Madame won't even lend me the old ones in
the store, and Estelle has none to spare for me, because I can't pay
her for teaching me. She gives me bits of muslin and wire and
things, and shows me now and then. But I know if I had a real flower
I could copy it; so she'd see I did know something, for I try real
hard. I'm SO tired of slopping round the streets, I'd do anything to
earn my living some other way."

Lizzie had poured out her trouble rapidly; and the little story was
quite affecting when one saw the tears on her cheeks, the poor
clothes, and the thin hands that held the stolen rose. Belle was
much touched, and, in her impetuous way, set about mending matters