“In!” said Royal; “that is a very different sort of a preposition.”
“I don’t know what you mean by a preposition,” said Lucy; “but I know you told me there was something in your cap, and that is what I came out to see.”
“Under, Lucy; I said under.”
“Well, you meant in; I verily believe you meant in.”
Lucy was right. Royal did indeed say under, but he meant to have her understand that there was something in his cap, and lying upon the great, flat stone.
“And so you told me a falsehood,” said Lucy.
“O Lucy!” said Royal, “I would not tell a falsehood for all the world.”
“Yes, you told me a falsehood; and now I don’t believe you about anything over the brook. For Miss Anne told me, one day, that when anybody told a falsehood, we must not believe them, even if they tell the truth.”
“O Lucy! Lucy!” said Royal, “I don’t believe she ever said any such a word.”
“Yes she did,” said Lucy. But Lucy said this rather hesitatingly, for she felt some doubt whether she was quoting what Miss Anne had told her, quite correctly.