"Well, I do not think Mrs. Boxall is worse. She has been very good, and has done everything I found myself obliged to recommend. I would not let her get up so soon as she wanted to."
"And what did you do to keep her in bed?" asked Lucy.
"Well, I could not think of a story to tell her just then, so I got the big Bible out of the book-case, and began to show her the pictures. But she did not care about that. I think it was my fault, though, because I was not able to hold the book so that she could see them properly. So I read a story to her, but I do not think I chose a very nice one."
Mrs. Boxall made a deprecating motion with her head and hands, accompanied by the words—
"She will say what she thinks—Bible or Prayer-book."
"Well, and where's the harm, when I mean none? Who's to be angry at that? I will say," Mattie went on, "that it was an ugly trick of that woman to serve a person that never did her any harm; and I wonder at two sensible women like Mrs. Boxall and Deborah sticking up for her."
"Is it Jael she means, grannie?" asked Lucy, very softly.
"Yes, it is Jael she means," answered Mattie for herself, with some defiance in her tone.
"For my part," she continued, "I think it was just like one of Syne's tricks."
"Have you seen Mr. Spelt to-day, Mattie?" asked Lucy, desirous of changing the subject, because of the direction the child's thoughts had taken.