"Who was the first to make up that idea,—the fair and the queen in the flower bower, and dressing the piazza and all? Who was it, I say?"
"Well," answered Hattie reluctantly, "Maggie was the first to think about it, and we talked it over together and arranged it all."
"I knew it!" cried Lily triumphantly; "I just knew it was Maggie. It sounds just like her making up. Hattie," she added reproachfully, "you tried to make us think it was yours."
"I didn't," said Hattie. "I never said so."
"You didn't just say so," said Bessie solemnly, "but you tried to give that depression."
"I didn't," pouted Hattie again; "and we did talk about it together, didn't we, Maggie?"
Maggie only gave a faint smile by way of answer, for she felt that she could not honestly allow that Hattie had suggested one single idea; and still she was too generous to wish to blame her more than she could avoid.
And for the second time that day was Hattie made to feel that her want of strict truthfulness had lowered her in the eyes of her young companions.
"Umph!" said Lily severely; "appears to me, Miss Hattie"—
But she was not allowed to finish the intended reproach, for Miss Ashton, seeing symptoms of a quarrel, hastened to avert it, and gently bade Lily be quiet.