A Wonderful Discovery. 119

 

“Tt’s a knife—a regular beauty—a birthday
present I’ve got for you. I’ve been hiding it
up ever so long. I was afraid you would see
it before the day.”

Stephen looked wonderingly at him.

“Where did you get it?” he whispered.

“Came by it honestly,” returned the other,
still laughing. “I bought it of that lame old
hawker you saw in the lane one day.”

Stephen gave him one more eager look,
and then, to Johnnie’s unspeakable astonish-
ment, burst into tears.

“Oh, Johnnie! oh, Johnnie!” was all he
would say at first, but after a while his
brother’s persevering questions brought out
the whole story.

“Ned said I stole the master’s knife, did
he!” cried Johnnie, in sudden rage ; “and you
believed him! Why, if he had told me a tale
like that of you I'd have knocked him down
for his pains. A pretty brother you are to
take up such tales of me!” And Johnnie
flung the knife on the ground, and dashed out
of the room.

Poor Stephen sobbed bitterly.

“Oh, if I had only spoken out at once
and asked Johnnie, or asked aunt! If I had
only done right at first, I should have told