Walter tried anxiously to cover his treasure with his little hands; Maggie helped him, but Conrad was strong, and soon again began to beat them. Mother Bopp, who had gone for a moment to the cradle, turned angrily round, and in a great passion cried, "What! fighting already? Who began it?"
"Conrad took my potatoes from me," said Walter, in a meek voice.
"The stupid little devil lies; they didn't belong to him at all, for Maggie peeled them!" screamed Conrad.
"I don't tell a lie," said Walter; "he did take them away from me."
"Walter is right; Conrad is both a thief and a liar!" asserted Maggie.
"Can it be possible that Walter is fighting again? That is too much to bear!" cried Mother Bopp in a rage. "Didn't I just tell you, you must be good, and that you must never fight again? You are a bad, wicked, troublesome fellow! Off,—off to bed with you! You shall not taste a single bite of anything to-night!"
"But, indeed, mother," interrupted Maggie, "it is not at all Walter's fault; Conrad—"
"Hold your tongue, miss!" cried Mother Bopp. "Much you know about right and wrong, to blame your own brother! You had better take care of yourself, or—"
The raised hand and threatening face explained sufficiently this mysterious "or."