“Yes’m,” replied Clematis, her lips quivering.
“First, I want to know what all this talk is about. Some of the girls were saying that you took something which did not belong to you. Can that be true?”
Clematis hung her head. The tears came into her eyes.
“Don’t cry, Clematis,” said Miss Rose. “Just tell Mrs. Snow what it is, and perhaps we can make it all right again.”
“What was it, little girl?” asked Mrs. Snow, as she drew her nearer.
“It was mine, I found it first,” sobbed Clematis.
“Yes, but you must remember that if we find a thing, that does not make it ours. We must find the true owner, and give it back. That is the only honest thing to do.”
“What was it you found?” asked Miss Rose.
“I don’t kn-ow.”
“Where did you find it?”