Bessie said she would go for the cart, and ran away down-stairs. She went through the parlor, and reaching the library-door, which stood ajar, pushed it open. Aunt Bessie and Uncle Ruthven were there; and what did she see? Was it possible?
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
At this the two culprits turned, and seeing Bessie's shocked and astonished face, Uncle Ruthven laughed outright, his own hearty, ringing laugh. "Come here, princess," he said.
But Bessie was off, the cart quite forgotten. Through the hall and up the stairs, as fast as the little feet could patter, never pausing till she reached mamma's room, where she buried her face in one of the sofa cushions; and there her mother found her some moments later.
"Why, Bessie, my darling, what is it?" asked mamma. "What has happened to you?"
Bessie raised her flushed and troubled face, but she was not crying, as her mother had supposed, though she looked quite ready to do so.
"Oh, mamma!" she said, as Mrs. Bradford sat down and lifted her up on her lap.
"What has troubled you, dearest?"
"Oh, mamma, such a shocking thing! I don't know how to tell you."
"Have you been in any mischief, dear? If you have, do not be afraid to tell your own mamma."