h, and left mine
out! And then you laugh. But I won't stand being bullied by a great
ugly thing--" Here his voice fortunately became choked with angry sobs.

"What is the matter? What nonsense you are talking!" exclaimed Madge
impatiently. "All the things were put into the hole at the same time.
You saw me do it yourself, because I happened to be nearest to the
treasure-house."

"And I believe I saw you pushing my things on one side to make room for
your own!" rejoined John. "And very likely you slily took some of mine
out and threw them away, so that the hole should not be too full."

"Well, if you believe all that you must be a little idiot!" said Madge
scornfully; and Betty cried: "How can you say such things? Of course
she wouldn't!"

"I think she would," asserted John, with irritating obstinacy. "She
thinks she can do as she likes with us and our things. Lewis often
says--"

"So it is Lewis who has been putting all these stupid ideas into your
head?" interrupted Madge. "I could not think why you had become so
discontented and grumbling all of a sudden! Now I see what it is, and
I'll never speak to that sneak again!"

"He is a very nice boy, very nice indeed," repeated John. "And I like
talking to him much better than playing with girls."

"You are welcome to him, I'm sure!" exclaimed Madge tempestuously. "A
horrid sneak who used to be always laughing at you little ones to me,
and calling you silly babies! And then directly my back is turned for
an afternoon, he goes trying to set you against me. No, I don't want
him coming sucking up to me any more, that's certain!" And a good deal
more of the same sort; for when Madge was indignant, she had an
extraordinary flow of very forcible but inelegant language. "Now for
my part I'm going away from here directly," she concluded. "John will
stop and tell tales to his friend, I suppose. Betty can do as she
likes."

Betty did not look as grateful as she might for this kind permission.
She was a peace-loving little person, and always particularly disliked
being called upon to take sides in family disputes.

"Can't we all go away and play together just as we used to, before we
knew Lewis?" she said at last. "We really had more fun then than we
have now, because we were not always afraid that something would be
found out."

"You are quite right!" answered Madge heartily. "We built this Eagle's
Nest to play in, didn't we? But now, instead of play