'Cause I's wicked, I is. I's mighty wicked, anyhow. I can't help it.'

Just at this minute Eva came into the room wearing her coral necklace.

'Why, Eva, where did you get your necklace?' said Miss Ophelia.

'Get it? Why, I have had it on all day,' answered Eva, rather surprised.
'And what is funny, aunty, I had it on all night too. I forgot to take
it off when I went to bed.'

Miss Ophelia looked perfectly astonished. She was more astonished still
when, next minute, Rosa, who was one of the housemaids, came in with a
basket of clean clothes, wearing her coral ear-rings as usual.

I'm sure I don't know what to do with such a child,' she said, in
despair. 'What in the world made you tell me you took those things,
Topsy?'

'Why, missis said I must 'fess. I couldn't think of nothing else to
'fess,' said Topsy, wiping her eyes.

'But of course, I didn't want you to confess things you didn't do,' said
Miss Ophelia. 'That is telling a lie just as much as the other.'

'Laws, now, is it?' said Topsy, looking surprised and innocent.

'Poor Topsy,' said Eva, 'why need you steal? You are going to be taken
good care of now. I am sure I would rather give you anything of mine
than have you steal it.'