'Topsy, I shall have to whip you, if you tell lies so.'
'Laws, missis, if you whip's all day, couldn't say no other way,' said Topsy, beginning to cry. 'I never seed dat ribbon. It must a caught in my sleeve. Miss Feely must'a left it on the bed, and it got caught in the clothes, and so got in my sleeve.'
Miss Ophelia was so angry at such a barefaced lie that she caught Topsy and shook her. 'Don't tell me that again,' she said.
The shake brought the gloves on the floor from the other sleeve.
'There,' said Miss Ophelia, 'will you tell me now you didn't steal the ribbon?'
Topsy now confessed to stealing the gloves. But she, still said she had not taken the ribbon.
'Now, Topsy', said Miss Ophelia kindly, 'if you will confess all about it I won't whip you this time.'
So Topsy confessed to having stolen both the ribbon and the gloves. She said she was very, very sorry, and would never do it again.
'Well, now, tell me,' said Miss Ophelia, 'have you taken anything else since you have been in the house? If you confess I won't whip you.'
'Laws, missis, I took Miss Eva's red thing she wears on her neck.'