"Wait a moment," said the sharp-voiced lady, as they were about to start off with the market-basket and the eight nice boxes. "Wait a moment. Where is the money Mr. Potter sent me yesterday?"
"Kate took it, ma'am," said Ninny; "it was in one of the boxes."
"No, mum, I niver," spoke up Kitty, turning round with a plate of fish in her hand. "Nothing was niver said to me about money, mum. I jist takes the boxes out of the basket, and sets 'em in a row on the pantry shelf, as ye bids me; but it's the first that iver I heerd about money."
"What does this mean?" said Mrs. Prim, turning round, and giving Lucy a severe look. "Are you sure Mr. Potter paid you yesterday?"
"O, yes, ma'am: as sure as can be."
And Flaxie struck in with her favorite ditty,—
"O, yes'm: serious, truly, black and bluely; for I saw him do it."
"Kate, you may go up to the store, and find out what this means," said Mrs. Prim, without paying the least attention to Flaxie. She had perfect faith in Kitty; and well she might; for the girl had lived with her fifteen years, and never told her a lie. But what had become of the money? It was certainly a pretty serious question.
Kitty went to the store, and came back, saying Mr. Potter had given the two dollars to the children.