"
"Pray, Susie; don't tell me this. It can do no good."
"Oh, but PLEASE!" cried Susan. "And then Mary--I can't think how she
could--but she said that poor dear Bessie was always sly, and that
she had been at the cupboard, and had got the pence; but she was your
favourite, and so you vindicated her. And Nurse began teasing her to
confess, and tell the truth, and told her she was a wicked child
because she would not; but it was all because we were put under
strangers! I'm sure they do set on Johnnie and Davie to be cross to
her."
"When was this, my dear?"
"Last night, when we went to the nursery to be washed. It was our
night, you know. Oh! I wish Mamma was well!"
"Indeed I do my dear. And how did poor Bessie bear it!"
"She got quite white, and never said a word, even when they told her
she was sulky. But when we got into bed, and I kissed her and
cuddled her up, oh! she did cry so; I didn't know what to do. So, do
you know, I got my shawl on, and went and called Sam; and he was not
gone to sleep, and he came and sat by her, and told her that he
believed her, and knew she was as sound a heart of oak as any of us;
and we both petted her, and Sam was so nice and kind, till she went
to sleep.
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