“I was so tired that I did not feel able to walk,” replied Josephine, who wanted to give the best excuse she could.
“We won’t stop to talk about it now,” added Frank. “Father and mother have come, and you can tell them all about it, Josephine.”
The boys led the way back to the picnic grounds; but Josephine was so tired she could hardly get back; and when she joined the party, she was completely worn out by the fatigue and anxiety of her lonely walk.
Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Lee said any thing about the matter till they got home. They came in the carryall, and Josephine rode back. The rest of the children walked home, singing like larks all the way.
“You got lost in the woods,—did you, Josephine?” said Mrs. Lee, in the evening.
“Yes, ma’am. Those rude girls left me alone, when they knew I could not find the way back,” replied Josephine, who wished to make her side of the question appear as well as she could.
“Is that the whole story, my child?” asked Mrs. Lee, with a smile.
“I wanted them to draw me in the wagon, and they wouldn’t.”
“Wasn’t that asking rather too much of them?”
“I don’t know but it was; but they needn’t have left me there all alone.”