"Very well, Betsey," said Mrs. Piper, serenely; "make some more."

"Yes, make some more," echoed Mr. Piper; and added, "chain up that dog."

"But real honest true," said Susy, "the fruit-cake _is_ all gone out of
the chest. You ate it up, you know, Annie; but it's no matter: we'll cut
up some cookies, or, may be, mother'll let us have some
oyster-crackers."

"_I_ ate up the cake!" cried Annie; "It's no such a thing; I never
touched it!" Her face flushed as she spoke.

"O, but you did," persisted Susy; "I suppose you've forgotten! You went
to the cake-chest this morning, and last night, and yesterday noon, and
ever so many more times."

Annie was too angry to speak.

"But it's just as well," added Susy, politely; "you could have it as
well as not, and perfectly welcome!"

"What are you talking about?" cried Annie, indignantly; for she thought
she saw a look of surprise and contempt on Flossy's face, and fancied
that Flossy despised her because she had a weakness for fruit-cake.

"I wonder if you take me for a pig, Susy Parlin! I heard what your
mother said about that cake! She said it was too dry for her company,
but it was too rich for little girls, and we must only eat a _teeny_
speck at a time. I told my mamma, and she laughed, to think such mean
dried-up cake was too rich for little girls!"