"That's not an answer. Did you take the thimble?"
"I'll find it by and by, papa," said Tommy, whimpering.
"That's all the answer he will give me," said Mrs. Seagrave.
"Well, then, he shall have no dinner till the thimble makes its appearance," replied Mr. Seagrave.
Master Tommy began to cry at this intelligence. Juno appeared with the turtle-soup; and Tommy cried louder when they had said grace and commenced their dinner. They were all very hungry, and William sent his plate for another portion, which he had not commenced long before he put his finger in his mouth and pulled out something.
"Why, mother, here's the thimble in my soup," cried William.
"No wonder he said he would find it by and by," said Ready, smiling; "he meant to have fished it up, I suppose, from what was left of the soup after dinner. Well, Mrs. Seagrave, I don't mean to say that Tommy is a good boy, but still, although be would not tell where the thimble was, he has not told a falsehood about it."
"No, he has not," replied William. "I think, now that the thimble is found, if he begs pardon, papa will forgive him."
"Tommy, come here," said Mr. Seagrave. "Tell me why you put that thimble into the soup?"
"I wanted to taste the soup. I wanted to fill the thimble; the soup burnt my fingers, and I let the thimble drop in."