"Oh thank you, Fanny! It is nice to talk to you. I couldn't see very distinctly what she had in her hand, only she was staring at it, and staring at it; and then she dropped it in again, right down into the depths of the tree; and I saw her bending more than ever, as though she were covering it up." "But you surely saw what it was like?" "It might have been anything--I wasn't very near then. I ran up to her, and asked her what it was." "And what did she say?" "Oh, she said it was a piece of wood, and that she had dropped it into the tree." Fanny sat very still. A coldness came over her. She was nearly stunned with what she considered the horror of Betty's conduct. "What is the matter?" asked Sibyl. "Nothing at all, Sib; nothing at all. And then, what happened?" "Betty was very cross at being disturbed." "That is quite probable," said Fanny with a laugh. "She certainly was, and I--I--I am afraid I annoyed her; but after a minute or two she got up and allowed me to walk with her. We walked towards the house, and she told me all kinds of funny stories; she really made me scream with laughter. She is the jolliest girl! Then, all of a sudden, we came in sight of the flower-gardens; and she asked me what I was going to wear last night, and I told her about the green chiffon dress which auntie had sent me; and then she suggested a wreath of small marguerites, and told me to get Birchall to cut some for me. She said they would be very becoming, and of course I believed her. There's nothing in my story, is there, Fanny?" "That depends on the point of view," answered Fanny. "I don't understand you." "Nor do I mean you to, kiddy." "Well, there's one thing more," continued Sibyl, who felt much elated at being allowed to talk to one of the most supercilious of all the Specialities. "I couldn't get out of my head about Betty and the oak-tree; so just now--a few minutes ago--I got some of my friends to come with me, and we went to the oak-tree, and I stood on Mabel Lee's shoulder, and I poked and poked amongst the debris and rubbish in the hollow of the trunk, and there was nothing there at all--nothing except just a piece of wood. So, of course, Betty spoke the truth--it was wood." "How many chocolates would you like?" was Fanny's rejoinder. "Oh Fanny, are you going to give me some?" "Yes, if you are a good girl, and don't tell any one that you repeated this very harmless and uninteresting little story to me about my Cousin Betty. Of course she is my cousin, and I don't like anything said against her." "But I wasn't speaking against darling Betty!" Sibyl's eyes filled with tears. "Of course not, monkey; but you were telling me a little tale which might be construed in different ways."