“What have you been doing, Janie?” she said. She had no idea anything had been the matter!
Emma was very cross when she got to the children. She was vexed at her own arm being bruised, and began scolding Leigh as if he had done it all on purpose to hurt her.
“You said it would be as right as could be, Master Leigh,” she grumbled, “and how was I to know? I’m not going to be scolded for it, I can tell you.”
“You needn’t be afraid,” said Leigh, very proudly. “I’ll take all the blame on myself when I tell mamma.”
Then Emma changed her tone and began to cry.
“You’ll not really tell your mamma,” she said. “Of course I’d be blamed, and I’d lose a good place, and what my poor mother’d say I don’t know. It’d go near to break her heart, and she’s not well. Oh Master Leigh, you’ll not tell? There’s no harm done, and Miss Dolly’s none the worse, and we’ll never be so silly again. Miss Mary, my dear, do ask Master Leigh not to tell.”
Mary could not bear to see any one cry, least of all a big person. Her lips began to quiver, and she looked timidly at her brother.
“Leigh,” she began.
And Leigh too was very tender-hearted. But both of them, and Artie too, felt deep down in their hearts that however sorry they might be for Emma they were not doing right in giving in to her.
They did promise not to tell, however; and then the little party turned homewards in very low spirits, though they had such great reason for thankfulness that their dear little sister was not hurt.