'Really, Helen,' said Elizabeth, 'I cannot think why you should be
determined to say all that you can against that poor Rupert.'

Helen made no answer.

'I do believe,' said Elizabeth, 'that you have had a grudge against
him ever since he made you an April fool. Oh! how capital it was,'
cried she, sitting down to laugh at the remembrance. 'To make you
believe that the beautiful work-box Uncle Edward sent you, was a case
of surgical instruments for Mr. Turner, to shew his gratitude for his
attendance upon Rupert when he had the fever, and for setting his
mouth to rights when his teeth were knocked out at school. Oh! there
never was such fun as to see how frightened you looked, and how
curious Kate and Horace were, and how Mamma begged him not to open
the box and shew her the horrid things.'

'I wish Rupert would keep to the truth with his jokes,' said Helen.

'Helen,' said Elizabeth, 'you cannot mean to say that he ever says
what is untrue. You are letting yourself be carried much too far by
your dislike.'

'If he does not positively assert what is not true, he often makes
people believe it,' said Helen.

'Only stupid people, who have no perception of a joke,' said
Elizabeth; 'he never deceived me with any joke; it is only that you
do not understand.'