"Yes, you have; and you needn't attempt to deny it."
"What have I done?"
"You know what you have done."
"I haven't done anything," protested she, speaking for the sake of speaking, rather than because she had any confidence in the impression her words would produce upon the mind of her tormentor, and all the while thinking how she could break away from the constable.
"'Thou shalt not steal,'" said Mr. Long, impressively.
"What do you mean by that?" demanded Fanny. "Do you mean to say that I steal? If you do, you are very much mistaken."
"Fanny, if you didn't steal anything, it was only because you did not find anything to steal."
What could he mean by that? She was perplexed, but she began to hope that he did not know what she had done.
"I do not want to steal," said she; and now she spoke for the purpose of drawing out her accuser, to ascertain how much he did know.
"You have been guilty of stealing several times," continued the constable, assuming a very stern and virtuous aspect.