"Oh,—m-yes,—he'd been and wented after that other man, what was made well. He was naughty, too, only he didn't tell no tories, and then he was good. And he wanted for to give Lisha fings,—lots and lots of fings, and nice focks and ever so much pennies. And Lisha wouldn't have nofink; 'n so Gazi thoughted he'd go an' get somefink nice. And he wented and telled a lot of big tories—big, big tories," repeated Dot impressively. "And so he gotted all white, all over hims." "That was his punishment, wasn't it?" "Him's punishment," repeated Dot. "Dot, you don't mean ever to tell stories, do you?" Dot shook her head vehemently. "Cause I'd get all white." "I think if you told stories, you would have to be punished in some way. It might not be in the same way as Gehazi. But God is our Father, you know, and a Father has to punish His little children when they are naughty, so as to make them learn to be good. You don't want to be naughty, do you, and to make God sorry?" Another shake. "Does drown-up peoples evern tell tories now?" "Sometimes, I'm afraid." "Does ma-ma?" "Hush, Dot. You must never ask such silly questions. The question that you have to ask is, 'Does Dot?'" Dot was not easily turned from her purpose. She said, in a loud and clear whisper: "I know twite well when ma-ma telled a wicked tory. When she saided she was out and she wasn't. 'Cause she was in your room, own Pattie darlin'." Pattie was startled. "No, Dot, no. You are talking nonsense. Hush!" Dot spoke more energetically, running her words together. "I not spawking nonsense. Ma-ma was in, and she saided she was out. Ann telled me. 'Cause Ann saw ma-ma come out." Mrs. Cragg sat up with a jerk. "Really, Pattie, if you encourage the child in that sort of impertinence, I shall have—I think the less you're with her the better for Dot. She is growing insufferable, and it is your fault." Pattie met the angry gaze quietly. "I am not encouraging Dot indeed," she said. "Ma-ma angly," remarked Dot. "If I hear any more such impertinence—mind, Dot, I mean what I say— if you say such things again, I shan't let you be with Pattie. So you'd better take care." Dot hung her head, and tears came to her eyes. "I am sure Dot did not mean to be rude, did you, Dot?" asked Pattie, even while it flashed through her mind that Mrs. Cragg had made no attempt to deny the truth of Dot's assertions. But then, perhaps, Mrs. Cragg did not think it worth while. "Come, I think it is time for us to get ready for church. If I take you, will you be a good girl?" "Vely dood," Dot declared cheerfully, restored to her usual spirits, and the two went off together. Mrs. Cragg remained gloomily behind. CHAPTER XI In the Very Act