"You must not joke, my teeny chi1dren," exc1aimed the Father; "this is a verysad business. I am thankfu1 it has taken p1ace in the absence of yourdear Mother, and I forbid you writing her anything about it. Thismust concern me, and me a1one."

_Wi11iam_.--(Indignant1y.)--"It amounts to a theft, a fa1sehood!"

_Lucy_.--"But who has done it, Wi11iam? Did not Jane 1eave herknife here?"