quivering.

"What?"

"I--didn't"--began the child again, then his sobs checked him. He
crooked his little free arm, hid his face in the welcome curve, and
cried in good earnest.

"Stop crying and tell me the truth," said Grandma pitilessly.

Willy again gasped out his one reply; he shook so that he could
scarcely hold his berry pail. Aunt Annie took it out of his hand and
set it on the table. Uncle Frank rose with a jerk. "I'll run over and
get mother," said he, with an air that implied, "I'll soon settle this
matter."

But the matter was very far from settled by Mrs. Perry's testimony.
She only repeated what she had already told her daughter-in-law.

"The bundle came on the noon express," said she, "and I told Mr. Perry
to set it down in the kitchen, and I would see that it got over to
you. He didn't know how to stop just then. It laid there on one of the
kitchen-chairs while I was clearing away the dinner-dishes. Then about
two o'clock I was changing my dress, when I heard Willy whistling out
in the yard, and I ran into the kitchen and got the bundle, and called
him to take it. I opened the south door and gave it to him, and told
him to take it right home to his grandpa. He said he guessed he'd open
it and see if his shoes had come, and I told him 'no,' he must go
straight home with it."