any reason to suppose that Annie Lovejoy went about meddling with our
things, and peeping into the closets?"

"Why, no, mother," replied Susy, much surprised; "she never saw the
closets, that I know of. Why, mother, what do you mean?"

"Never ate cake, did she, without leave?"

"O, now I know what you mean, mother! Yes'm, she ate some of that
fruit-cake you gave us to play with; and when I told her of it, she got
angry, and said she was going right home, and would tell her mother how
I treated my company; but I don't see how you found that out!"

"Never mind yet how I found it out, my dear. I want to know if you are
sure that Annie ate the cake?"

"Yes, mother: just as certain sure as I can be! You know Dotty can't
reach that high shelf in the nursery-closet, and I can't, without
getting into a chair; and Prudy can't walk a step; and Flossy despises
cake."

"But," said Mrs. Parlin, smiling, "I don't see that you have proved
Annie to be the guilty one."

"Guilty? O, I don't know as she is _guilty_, mamma; but she ate the
cake! She ate it right before my face and eyes; but I told her it was
just as well, she was perfectly welcome, and tried to be as polite as if
she was a grown-up lady, mother. But, O, dear, it didn't make a speck of
difference how much I said; for the more I said, the more angry she
grew, and I couldn't make her believe I didn't think she was a thief and