"I want to know, honest Injun," said Jim, "what
you are telling such awful whoppers about your old
big sister Solly for?"

Content was silent. This time she did not smile,
a tear trickled out of her right eye and ran over the
pale cheek.

"Because you know," said Jim, observant of the
tear, but ruthless, "that you haven't any big sister
Solly, and never did have. You are getting us all
in an awful mess over it, and father is rector
here, and mother is his wife, and I am his
son, and you are his niece, and it is downright
mean. Why do you tell such whoppers? Out
with it!"

Content was trembling violently. "I lived with
Aunt Eudora," she whispered.

"Well, what of that? Other folks have lived
with their aunts and not told whoppers."

"They haven't lived with Aunt Eudora."

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Content
Adams, and you the rector's niece, talking that way
about dead folks."

"I don't mean to talk about poor Aunt Eudora,"