"
But Lizzie could not take it; she could only cover her face and cry;
for this kindness rent her heart and made the stolen flower a burden
too heavy to be borne.
"Oh, don't cry so! Are you sick? Have I been rude? Tell me all about
it; and if I can't do anything, mamma can," said Belle, surprised
and troubled.
"No; I'm not sick; I'm bad, and I can't bear it when you are so good
to me," sobbed Lizzie, quite overcome with penitence; and taking out
the crumpled rose, she confessed her fault with many tears.
"Don't feel so much about such a little thing as that," began Belle,
warmly; then checked herself, and added, more soberly, "It WAS wrong
to take it without leave; but it's all right now, and I'll give you
as many roses as you want, for I know you are a good girl."
"Thank you. I didn't want it only because it was pretty, but I
wanted to copy it. I can't get any for myself, and so I can't do my
make-believe ones well. Madame won't even lend me the old ones in
the store, and Estelle has none to spare for me, because I can't pay
her for teaching me.
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