"Well," said Bessie, with a long sigh. "I suppose we'll have to. Let's go and do it quick then. I don't like to think about it."
Maggie laid Flossy down upon the soft mat at the foot of the stairs, and hand in hand, she and Bessie went up to their mother's room. Now it so happened that Mrs. Bradford had been passing through the upper hall as the little girls sat talking below. She stopped for a moment to see what they were doing, and heard Maggie tell Bessie about the lawyer. They did not see or hear her, and she would not wait to listen, though she was sure, from the sound of their voices that they were in trouble, but passed on to her room, where her sister Annie and Mrs. Rush were sitting. She told them what Maggie had said, at which they were very much amused.
"Something has happened to distress them," said Mrs. Bradford, "and I suppose I shall soon hear of it. If they come up with any droll story, do not laugh, as it seems to be a serious matter to them."
Mrs. Rush and Annie Stanton promised to keep sober faces if possible; but they did not know how much their gravity was to be tried. A moment later, the children came in, and with grave, earnest looks walked directly to their mother.
"Mamma," said Maggie, "we have something dreadful to tell you."
"Such a shocking thing!" said Bessie; "but we have to tell you."
"That is right, my darlings," said mamma. "If you have done anything wrong, tell me at once, and I will forgive you."
"It was not us, mamma. It was the new cook. Tell her quick, Maggie."
"Mamma," said Maggie, almost in a whisper, "she called us little dev'—"