Kind, gentle Jessie seemed quite transported out of herself, as she flew to the door and called Johnny, leaving the two mothers looking at each other, and Ellen, somewhat startled, saying “I’m sure, if it is not true, I’m very sorry, Caroline, but it came from—”
She broke off, for Johnny was scuffling across the hall, calling out “Holloa, Jessie, what’s up?”
“Johnny, she’s done it!” said Jessie. “You said if the wrong one was accused you would tell the whole story!”
“And what do they say?” asked John, who was by this time in the room.
“Mamma has been telling Aunt Carey that Rob put poor little Armine under the pump for using bad language.”
“I say!” exclaimed John; “if that is not a cram!”
“You said you knew nothing of it,” said his mother.
“I said I didn’t do it. No more I did,” said John.
“No more did Rob, I am sure,” said his mother.
But Johnny, though using no word of denial, made it evident that she was mistaken, as he answered in an odd tone of excuse, “Armie was cheeky.”