It was all my fault--Pixie had nothing to do
with it--I will tell you all about it."

"It is more than time, Lottie. Begin at once, and pray calm yourself
until you have finished!" returned Miss Phipps coldly; and Lottie wiped
away her tears, and struggled to keep back the rising sobs.

"It was the night of the term-holiday--I was going out--I was dressed
and going along the passage, and Mademoiselle's door stood open, and I
saw the light shining upon the gold of the scent-bottle. I had no scent
of my own, and I thought I would go in and take a little of
Mademoiselle's. I knew she would give it to me if I asked, and if I
told her next day there wouldn't be any harm. But I was in a hurry, and
I heard Pixie calling, and I put the bottle down too quickly, and the
glass struck the corner of the table and fell into pieces in my hand. I
was so frightened--and there was no time to think, for Pixie was running
along the passage, so I just mopped up the scent with my handkerchief,
and flew to the door. I suppose the piece of glass must have got in
then, for the handkerchief has never been out of my pocket until to-
night. Pixie said, `Oh, what a smell of scent!' and I said something--I
forget what--about its being rude to make remarks, and ran downstairs as
quickly as I could go. I was so wretched all the evening I didn't know
what to do. I thought when it was found out Pixie would be sure to
tell; but when I came home the girls all said how lucky I was to have
been out, for no one could suspect me, and I said nothing. And I saw
Mademoiselle crying, and I said nothing, and then I was afraid to speak,
for it was too late! Pixie came to me next morning and said, `Lottie,
they think I broke the bottle because I was the only girl in
Mademoiselle's room last night; but I know that you were there too, and
that you had been taking some scent!' and I begged and prayed her not to
tell anyone else. I was so confused that I let her see I had broken it,
but I said if she told I should get into trouble with my father, and she
promised at once. She was so willing, that I didn't feel as
uncomfortable as I expected, but I was miserable when everyone blamed
her, and she was punished. I comforted myself by thinking that I would
ask her to stay with me in the holidays, and make it up to her then.
She never told me what she was doing in Mademoiselle's room--I tried to
believe that she was really to blame. She might have cracked the