"Well, you see, she thinks so much of Florry—all the girls do," answered Priscilla. "But, Tilly, I don't think you ought to say such a thing, unless you are quite sure. Just think: it is enough to send Florry to the State Prison."
"Yes, you all care about Florry; and nobody thinks anything about my losing my beautiful watch," said Tilly, pouting. "I guess you would not like very well to lose a new gold watch and chain."
"But perhaps somebody else stole it—maybe one of the servants."
"I tell you nobody else had a chance. I always keep my jewels locked up," said Tilly, with a grand air. "Only that morning I unlocked it to show the things to Florry, and left it open while I went to speak to father."
"That does look badly," observed Priscilla.
"I should think it did. But, yet, I don't know that I should have thought of it, only for what Emma Hausen told me."
"And did she really tell you that Florry had stolen?"
"Yes, indeed she did. She said that Florry carried off some beautiful plants that her mother had just got from the city."
"Well, I would not have believed that about Florry Lester, of all the girls in the world. And she talks so good, too!"
"That don't always make people any better," said Tilly. "My father says he always expects to be cheated when he is dealing with people who only pretend to be good."