"Don't you dare to talk that way of my Tom," she said. "He's not mean and silly, but he's wise as any thing, and knows a whole lot about what is right; and he is un-meaner than any one you know!"
"I shall touch the chickens and ducks if I want to, and Tom shan't say any thing about it," said Mabel, defiantly.
"It's none of my affairs if you do," returned Lily; "but you're not going to talk horridly about my Tom."
That she would take very decided measures to prevent this, or, at least, to punish any repetition of the offence, Lily plainly showed by the very emphatic little nod of her head, with which she treated Mabel.
The latter turned pettishly away, knowing that Lily generally had the best of it in any war of words, but she muttered as she did so,—
"I'll touch them when Tom's not here."
"She forgets 'the eyes of the Lord' are everywhere," said Mamie, rather jauntily, for Lulu being her sister, she felt very proud of her good behavior on this occasion, and as if it reflected some credit on herself; "and she's not half as good as Lulu."
Lily turned her eyes upon her with a look in which Mamie read some disapproval and questioning.
"What's the matter?" she asked.