"Why you know I have the same amount to spend as you have yourself!" broke in Violet, looking both surprised and reproachful.
"Yes; but I know, too, that you have been sending a part of it to Ruth, and so—"
"I haven't, I haven't!" Violet interrupted again. "I quite meant to do so, but I found there were so many things I wanted," she added, greatly abashed.
"Yes, of course," Ann returned, hurriedly, trying in vain to conceal her astonishment; "you must not think I wish to pry into your private affairs, Violet. Your money is your own to do as you like with; but you must remember that you did tell me you were going to send some to Ruth, and that misled me."
"Do your mother and father know that Agnes Hosking suspects me of having stolen her purse?" demanded Violet, in a hard tone.
"No," replied Ann; "I have not told them."
"Then I shall," said Violet proudly; "I wonder if they will believe that I am a thief! Perhaps they will send me home in disgrace!"
"You know they will not."
"How can I tell? Why should they not believe this tale against me if others do—if you did?"
"Violet, you are most unjust." There was deep pain in Ann's voice.