innocence.

'Why, that's Miss Feely's ribbon, an't it? How could it a got into my
sleeve?'

'Topsy, you naughty girl, don't tell me a lie. You stole that ribbon,'

'Missis, I declare I didn't. Never seed it till dis blessed minnit.'

'Topsy,' said Miss Ophelia, 'don't you know it is wicked to tell lies?'

'I never tells no lies, Miss Feely,' said Topsy. 'It's jist the truth
I've been, tellin' now. It an't nothin' else.'

[Illustration]

'Topsy, I shall have to whip you, if you tell lies so.'

'Laws, missis, if you whip's all day, couldn't say no other way,' said
Topsy, beginning to cry. 'I never seed dat ribbon. It must a caught in
my sleeve. Miss Feely must'a left it on the bed, and it got caught in
the clothes, and so got in my sleeve.'

Miss Ophelia was so angry at such a barefaced lie that she caught Topsy
and shook her. 'Don't tell me that again,' she said.

The shake brought the gloves on the floor from the other sleeve.

'There,' said Miss Ophelia, 'will you tell me now you didn't steal the
ribbon?'