"You need not hold it so determinately behind you. I am not going to take it from you."
"Nonsense! I could take it if I liked, but I do not want it; and I know where you got it too, Fanny."
"No you don't, cousin. I am sure you don't."
"But I do; for I saw your uncle give it you, just now."
"If you saw him, why did you bother so? But I know you did not see him. You are telling me a fib, cousin Frances, and it's very wicked of you!" said Fanny, looking up reproachfully.
At this, as Frances thought, confirmation of her doubts, her rage burst forth.
"You little abominable, good-for-nothing creature! you have the face to accuse me of telling a falsehood; I will have you punished for it. Your Mamma shall know how shamefully you are being brought up by that would-be-saint, Miss Neville."
"If you say a word against my governess," retorted Fanny, "I will tell Mamma, too; all I know you've done."
"What have I done? you little bold thing, speak!" and she grasped the child's arm again, so sharply that Fanny's face flushed hotly with the pain; but she bore it firmly, and never uttered a cry, or said a word in reply.
"You stole Miss Neville's work," replied Fanny fearlessly. "No one thinks it's you, but I know it, and could tell if I liked."
"That you took my governess's work," repeated Fanny. "I know it was you; because I saw her put it away in her basket before we went out, and when we came home again it was gone, and she has never found it since."
"What are you talking about? I think you are crazed."
"No, I am not. What did you go into the school-room for that day, while we were out? There's nothing of yours there; and why did you look so angry at Miss Neville, when we all came upstairs, if you had not taken away her piece of embroidery to vex and annoy her."
"Was it on that day Miss Neville lost a piece of work?"
"Yes, it was only half finished, too; and you took it, you know you did."
"And you say some one took it while you were out walking?"
Frances lifted away her hand from Fanny's arm, where it had been placed so roughly, and let it fall helplessly to her side.
Gradually she drooped her eyes, and slowly moved away.
"It is too much," she said, with a deep sigh, while the child stood mute with astonishment at the effect of her words, she being old and wise enough to see they had not only disarmed, but wounded and hurt Frances, and stung her to the quick.