At that moment China hated herself more than her mistress, and glanced helplessly around, as if for some fig-leaf beneath which to hide.
"You did not!" repeated the mistress slowly and with emphasis, fastening upon the poor girl her merciless eyes. "You say you did not; all the servants say they did not. We will see."
Mrs. Lisle produced a tiny paper from her pocket, and emptied its powdered contents into half a wine-glass of water; stirring the mixture, she gave a spoonful to each suspected person, and then ordered them to stand in a row in the back-yard.
This cruel woman watched to see the sable faces turned to a deathly yellow; ipecacuanha was a successful rack and torture. To all, however, but to China, did the consciousness of innocence afford alleviation. Fresh pieces of peel ejected from her stomach gave ample witness as to who had purloined the orange. All her companions were surprised, some grieved, some rejoiced; for
| "Base Envy withers at another's joy, |
| And hates that excellence it cannot reach." |
"It is well for pride to have a fall," said one.
"She thought herself so much better'n all the rest on us," quoth another.
"I allus thought she wa'nt no better'n she should be, for all her puttin' on such airs," spoke a third contemptuously.
"She won't find no rocking-chair, nor no time to sing love-songs, nor make herself bows and fine lady fixins out in de corn and 'bacco patch. Heigho!" crowed Dinah.
Amy's Indian eyes swam in tears, and she and the mighty Chloe cast pitiful glances at their disgraced companion.