'Granny has been so kind,' she said, 'and I am so glad I've told her. It was dreadful to have it on my mind, Ruth dear. And granny has been telling me how good you were about the basin, and I said to her it was you that said I must tell. And do you know, she _did_ know I'd broken it, only she waited for me to tell myself. It's never been mended, but now she's going to send it to be done.' Ruth sympathised in Flossie's joy, and the child was too happy to notice the girl's sadness. All Florentia said only made her own confession the more difficult. 'There is no real need for it,' said the tempter. 'No one can be blamed now. Indeed, it was not you who broke it after all.' But Ruth had a conscience. Late that evening there came a timid knock at my lady's door, and in answer to her 'come in,' a pale and trembling girl appeared. 'Ruth!' exclaimed the old lady in surprise. 'Is there anything wrong?' 'Oh no, my lady. Miss Flossie's in bed and asleep, quite happy. It's not about her. It's--it's--oh, my lady, it's about me. I--I broke, at least I didn't, but I thought I did, and that's just as bad. I thought I broke the green casket, and--and--I couldn't bear to tell--just as there'd been such trouble about the bowl, and--if I must go home, I'll not complain, my lady. I'--but here she broke down into sobs. Lady Melicent stared at her in concern. 'You broke or thought you broke the green casket,' she said. 'Why, Flossie has just been telling me, what indeed I knew already--that _she_ broke it,' and she looked at Ruth as if she half feared that the girl was dreaming. 'That was how I came to tell myself,' said Ruth. 'Miss Flossie has been so unhappy about it that at last she could bear it no longer, and this afternoon in the garden she told me. And then I felt that ashamed to think that I, more than twice her age, and knowing how wrong it was, had been hiding what I thought I'd done. It was last week--I knew I shouldn't touch the cabinet, but it looked so dusty one morning I felt somehow tempted to do it, and the green box, leastways the lid, slipped--of course I see now how it was. The hinges were loose, and it was broke already. But I _thought_ I'd done it, and I couldn't bear to tell for fear your ladyship should think me really too bad, and just as Miss Flossie was coming and all. So I waited, and then I got so as I couldn't tell. I wondered Naylor never noticed it. I wouldn't have let another be blamed for it. But when she didn't seem to have found it was broke, I thought I needn't. And now I'm quite ready to go home; it's only what I deserve.' 'No, Ruth, I should be very sorry for you to go home. I am very glad you have told me now. You did not tell Miss Flossie?' 'No, my lady. I thought it best to tell you first.'