136 PEEP AT OUR NEIGHBORS.

in this way 2”? Amanda said, while a tear
stuod in her eye. “Is it possible? I
should not have believed that of you.”

‘¢Why, what harm is there in that ?”
I asked.

«You might as well ask what harm
there is in telling a lie.”

‘‘ But I did not tell a lie.”’

‘‘Perhaps not. But didn’t you think
that was rather a poor way of telling the
truth ?”’

«No, I’m sure I don’t.”

‘‘Didn’t you try to make me think
that you had not taken any part in
stealing and eating the melons ?”

‘© Yes, but I didn’t tell a lie about it.”’