“Why, that was made by shutting up the book,” said her father. “How came the book shut up?”
“Why, I shut it, sir,” said Lucy.
“What did you shut it for?” said her father.
“Because,” said Lucy, speaking in a very timid voice again, “I did not want you to see the blot.”
“Then what did you come and tell me for?” said her father.
“Why, I thought it would be better to come and tell you,” said Lucy.
“You first shut the book in order to conceal it, and then you altered your mind, and so came and told me; was that it?”
“Yes, sir,” said Lucy.
“Well,” said her father, “that was honest, at any rate. And the blot, I see, is on the very word honesty. What a curious coincidence!”
“I don’t know what you mean by coincidence,” said Lucy.