Hope and Have Part 4

"Not yet," replied f.a.n.n.y, with more confidence than she actually felt.

The consciousness of being the leader in the enterprise led her to put on a bold face in order to inspire her friend with confidence, if for no other purpose.

"What shall we do?" demanded Kate, nervously.

"Keep still; don't you say a word."

"What are you doing here, f.a.n.n.y, at this time of day?" asked Mr. Long, as he approached the girls.

"I'm not doing anything," replied f.a.n.n.y, boldly.

"Why are you not at school?"

"The teacher sent us down to get some green branches to put over the clock. We are going to have some visitors in school this afternoon,"

replied f.a.n.n.y, promptly.

"Did she send the other girl, too?"

"Yes; she sent both of us."

"I want to see you, f.a.n.n.y; come with me," continued the terrible constable, beckoning her to follow him up the pier.

"What do you want of me?"

"I wish to speak with you a moment."

"I can't stop long, for we must hurry back with the boughs," added f.a.n.n.y, who had no relish for a confidential conversation with such a man, for she at once surmised its topic.

"Are you looking for green boughs out on the end of that pier?" said he.

"We only went out there for a moment," pleaded f.a.n.n.y, as she followed Mr. Long, but it was with the intention of darting away from him at a favorable moment.

But the constable stopped before he reached the head of the pier, which effectually prevented her retreat unless she jumped into the water.

"What do you want of me, Mr. Long?" she asked, with increasing boldness.

"f.a.n.n.y, you have been very bad again," began the tormentor.

"No, I haven't."

"Yes, you have; and you needn't attempt to deny it."

"What have _I_ done?"

"You know what you have done."

"I haven't done anything," protested she, speaking for the sake of speaking, rather than because she had any confidence in the impression her words would produce upon the mind of her tormentor, and all the while thinking how she could break away from the constable.

"'Thou shalt not steal,'" said Mr. Long, impressively.

"What do you mean by that?" demanded f.a.n.n.y. "Do you mean to say that I steal? If you do, you are very much mistaken."

"f.a.n.n.y, if you didn't steal anything, it was only because you did not find anything to steal."

What could he mean by that? She was perplexed, but she began to hope that he did not know what she had done.

"I do not want to steal," said she; and now she spoke for the purpose of drawing out her accuser, to ascertain how much he did know.

"You have been guilty of stealing several times," continued the constable, a.s.suming a very stern and virtuous aspect.

"I never meant to _steal_ anything."

"But you meant to steal this time: the cat is out of the bag."

The constable's stern features relaxed a little, and there was something like a smile playing upon his face, as if in faint appreciation of a joke.

"The cat is out of the drawer, if that is what you mean," said f.a.n.n.y, laughing, and now greatly encouraged by the new aspect of the case.

"That is what I mean."

"But I didn't let the cat out," protested f.a.n.n.y.

"Who did?"

"Mrs. Green."

"f.a.n.n.y, you are lying to me, and you know you are," added Mr. Long, sternly.

"I hope to die if it isn't just as I say!" persisted the wicked girl, earnestly. "Mrs. Green let the cat out of the drawer, and I had a good laugh over it."

f.a.n.n.y began to laugh very heartily. The constable was staggered, and it was evident that he was not smart enough to deal with one so shrewd and clever as the wayward girl.

"What are you laughing at?" asked Mr. Long.

"I was laughing to think of the poor cat as she jumped out of the drawer and ran away. What did you put her in there for? Were you afraid she would steal the meat or the milk? Could that cat read, Mr. Long?

Were you trying to teach her one of the ten commandments?"

"Do you mean to tell me, f.a.n.n.y, that Mrs. Green let the cat out of the drawer?"

"Yes, she did. Poor p.u.s.s.y mewed awfully in the drawer, where you put her. Perhaps she was saying over the commandment you gave her to learn; but Mrs. Green didn't understand her lingo, and let her out."

"f.a.n.n.y, I am going up to see Mrs. Green, and if you have told me a lie, it will be all the worse for you," said Mr. Long.

"You can ask Mrs. Green herself."

"I will ask her. You meant to steal: you were seen watching Mr. Grant when he had the key of the drawer."

"And you set a trap to catch me; but you caught Mrs. Green!" laughed f.a.n.n.y.