But poor Content flushed and paled, yet neither would she reply; that is, in such terms as her aunt desired. “I would rather not tell, Aunt Ruth.”
“Then thee acknowledges there is something, and thee knows what that something is?”
“Ye-es,” said Content.
“I shall get to it, then; Fritzy, what has happened?”
“I run Don into the side of the stable and barked his sides all off.”
It was a relief for all to laugh; the confession was made in such honest trepidation, for Fritz knew that old Don was the “apple of his Aunt Ruth’s eye.”
“Christina, will thee tell me?”
The gentle tone assumed when she was addressed sent soft-hearted little Christina into a flood of tears.
“Melville?”
“Wild horses won’t drag it out of me, Aunt Ruth.”