But Hilary's harmless little joke failed to make her sister smile; and the entrance of the girl seemed to excite positive apprehension. How was it possible to make excuse to a servant for her mistress's shortcomings? how scold for ill-doing this young girl, to whom, ere she had been a night in the house, so bad an example had been set? Johanna half expected Elizabeth to take a leaf out of Selina's book and begin abusing herself and Hilary. No: she stood very sheepish, very uncomfortable, but not in the least bold or sulky--on the whole, looking rather penitent and humble. Her mistress took courage. "Elizabeth I want you to tell me the truth about that unfortunate breakage. Don't be afraid. I had rather you broke every thing in the house than have told me what was not true." "It was true; it was the cat." "How could that be possible? You were coming down stairs with the ewer in your hand." "Her got under my feet, and throwed me down, and so I tumbled, and smashed the thing agin the floor." The Misses Leaf glanced at each other. This version of the momentous event was probable enough, and the girl's eager, honest manner gave internal confirmatory evidence pretty strong. "I am sure she is telling the truth." said Hilary. "And remember what her mother said about her word being always reliable." This reference was too much for Elizabeth. She burst out, not into actual crying, but into a smothered choke. "If you donnot believe me, missus, I'd rather go home to mother." "I do believe you," said Miss Leaf, kindly then waited till the pinafore, used as a pocket handkerchief, had dried up grief and restored composure. "I can quite well understand the accident now; and I am sure if you had put it as plainly at first, my sister would have understood it too. She was very much annoyed, and no wonder. She will be equally glad to find she was mistaken." Here Miss Leaf paused, somewhat puzzled how to express what she felt it her duty to say, so as to be comprehended by the servant, and yet not let down the dignity of the family Hilary came to her aid. "Miss Selina is sometimes hasty; but she means kindly always. You must take care not to vex her, Elizabeth; and you must never answer her back again, however sharply she speaks. It is not your business; you are only a child, and she is your mistress." "Is her? I thought it was this 'un." The subdued clouding of Elizabeth's face, and her blunt pointing to Miss Leaf as "this 'un." were too much for Hilary's gravity She was obliged to retreat to the press, and begin an imaginary search for a book. "Yes, I am the eldest, and I suppose you may consider me specially as your mistress," said Johanna, simply."