"Oh, very soon, papa; you'll see," said Lily, confident in the strength of her newly formed resolution.
It was not long before Tom made good his mother's words by appearing, his lessons all ready for the next day, for it happened that he had not had much to do that evening; and Mrs. Norris immediately asked him,—
"What did you do with my silver inkstand, my boy?"
"I did not have it, mamma," was the answer.
"But you put it away this afternoon, did you not?"
"No," answered Tom, wonderingly, but positively.
"Why, yes, Tom," said Lily, "you told me you had put away all mamma's things that she left on the table."
"But there was no inkstand there," said Tom. "I remember noticing that, because I said to myself, 'Mamma has taken time to put by her ink;' and I supposed you had feared it would be spilled, mamma. There was no inkstand upon the table, I am sure."
"Did you move the inkstand at all, Lily?" asked Mrs. Norris.