"And get up to your ears in hot water," returned Flora, tossing her head.
"Even that would be better than to let any one suffer from an untrue statement."
"Ah! But suppose it should be true?"
"Let the guilt rest upon the right head—where it ought to rest. But save the innocent from unjust allegations. That is my doctrine."
"A very good doctrine, no doubt," Flora returned; "if you can act it out."
Here the subject was dropped. On the next morning, Mary Lee called in to see her young friend Ellen Gray. After conversing for a short time she said—
"I heard, yesterday, Ellen, that at Mrs. Harvey's party, you acted towards Mr. Evelyn with much discourtesy of manner, besides actually telling an untruth."
"I am unconscious of having done either the one or the other of these," Ellen replied, in a quiet tone.
"I believed you innocent," said Mary, with a brightening countenance. "But what ground is there for the idle, ill-natured gossip that has got on the wind?"
"Not much, if any. I declined dancing with Evelyn, as I had a perfect right to do."