and negligence, blame.'"

_Mary_.--"Admirable! But that does not apply to _me_, for
it is scarcely an hour since I laid my knife on this very table,
which certainly belongs to us."

_Lucy_.--"Are you quite sure of it, Mary!"

_Mary_--"Yes, indeed, there is no doubt of it, for Sophy asked
me to give her a pretty little red apple, as usual, before going to
school. I went immediately to the fruit-room for it, and as it was a
little spoiled, I cleaned it with my silver knife, which I laid on
this table, whilst I was kissing her. I am therefore quite sure of it."

_John_.--(Frowning,)--"For my part, I confess, I don't like all
these strangers who come about the house. For instance, that little
_Jane_, who sells lilies of the valley, and strawberries, and so
on--I very much distrust her sullen look; and who knows, if
perhaps...?"

_Lucy_--"Fie, fie, brother, to suspect that poor little modest
gentle child, who supports her sick mother by her own industry! Oh!
it is very wrong, John!"

"What is the matter?" said their Father, who had heard this dispute
from the garden, where he was reading under the shade of a tree.

Mary related her story, and finished by saying,--"Well, if it be
God's will, So-be-it! My beautiful knife is lost!"