anything," protested she, speaking for the sake of
speaking, rather than because she had any confidence in the impression
her words would produce upon the mind of her tormentor, and all the
while thinking how she could break away from the constable.

"'Thou shalt not steal,'" said Mr. Long, impressively.

"What do you mean by that?" demanded Fanny. "Do you mean to say that I
steal? If you do, you are very much mistaken."

"Fanny, if you didn't steal anything, it was only because you did not
find anything to steal."

What could he mean by that? She was perplexed, but she began to hope
that he did not know what she had done.

"I do not want to steal," said she; and now she spoke for the purpose
of drawing out her accuser, to ascertain how much he did know.

"You have been guilty of stealing several times," continued the
constable, assuming a very stern and virtuous aspect.

"I never meant to _steal_ anything."

"But you meant to steal this time: the cat is out of the bag."

The constable's stern features relaxed a little, and there was
something like a smile playing upon his face, as if in faint
appreciation of a joke.

"The cat is out of the drawer, if that is what you mean," said Fanny,
laughing, and now greatly encouraged by the new aspect of the case.

"That is what I mean."

"But I didn't let the cat out," protested Fanny.

"Who did?"

"Mrs. Green."

"Fanny, you are lying to me, and you know you are," added Mr. Long,
sternly.

"I hope to die if it isn't just as I say!" persisted the wicked girl,
earnestly. "Mrs. Green let the cat out of the drawer, and I had a good
laugh over it."

Fanny began to laugh very heartily. The constable was staggered, and it
was evident that he was not smart enough to deal with one so shrewd and
clever as the wayward girl.

"What are you laughing at?" asked Mr. Long.

"I was laughing to think of the poor cat as she jumped out of the
drawer and ran away. What did you put her in there for? Were you afraid
she would steal the meat or the milk? Could that cat read, Mr. Long?
Were you trying to teach her one of the ten commandments?"

"Do you mean to tell me, Fanny, that Mrs. Green let the cat out of the
drawer?"

"Yes, she did. Poor pussy mewed awfully in the drawer, where you put
her. Perhaps she was saying over the commandment you gave her to learn;
but Mrs. Green didn't understand her lingo, and let her out."

"Fanny, I am going up to see Mrs. Green, and if you