“You didn’t take anything from her car?”
“Of course not. Only the bag of tulip bulbs Hanny gave me.”
“Could you have mixed the bags?”
“I don’t think I did,” Vevi said. “I will show you the bulbs.”
For safe keeping, the little girl had stored the bag in the basement. Quickly she brought it upstairs.
Mrs. McGuire untied the strings and peered into the bag.
“Tulip bulbs all look alike to me,” she said. “If you are sure these are yours, Vevi—”
“Oh, I am, Mother!”
“Then forget Mrs. Gabriel,” advised Mrs. McGuire. “To tell you the truth, her accusation annoyed me. I offered to pay her for any bulbs she thought she had lost, but that did not satisfy her. Nor would she give me her address so that I could call her after talking to you, Vevi. I am afraid she is a trouble maker.”
No more was said about the bulbs. Jane and Connie stayed for lunch. After the dishes had been done, Mrs. McGuire went next door to talk with Connie’s mother.