ss Hender more than her
words--it made what was apparently a trifling matter seem important.

"I--they--they were so hungry, and--I didn't know there was going to be
any dinner, and--and I gave them money to go and get some buns."

"And you trusted those two boys to take Margery right down to the
village----"

"No," broke in Bella, anxious to explain; "they took her only as far as
Aunt Maggie's, and when they'd got their buns they were to come back there
for her, and----"

"Couldn't she have waited here for her bun? Whatever made you send her to
Mrs. Langley's?"

Bella grew more embarrassed than ever. "She--was so hungry," she began;
"she kept on crying for bread and butter, and I sent her to--to ask----"
but her words failed her altogether at the sight of the expression on her
aunt's face.

"You didn't send and ask Mrs. Langley to give Margery something to eat,
did you?" she demanded slowly, dwelling on each word with an emphasis that
nearly drove Bella crazy.

"I--I only--yes, I did!" the last words bursting from her as though she
could explain or justify herself no more.

Miss Hender's eyes blazed. "You as good as told that woman that I kept
you hungry, that you hadn't food to eat, and were afraid to ask for it.
You as good as told her that I ill-treated and starved you!" her words
caught in her throat. Step by step she had been drawing nearer to the
frightened child, her mouth set, her eyes glowing with rage. Bella, for
the first time in her life, almost screamed with terror.

"I--I didn't mean that!" she gasped.

"You couldn't come and ask me! You couldn't be straightforward and
honest, oh no, you must go mischief-making to that woman down the lane,
when you know I hate her! Why," with a sudden clutch, at Bella's thin
arm, "couldn't you have come and asked me? Answer me that! Do you hear?
Answer me, I tell you!"

"I was afraid," stammered Bella.

"Afraid? I'll make you afraid of me yet, you young hussy! I'll give you
something to make you afraid of me. I s'pose you told her, too, that I
treated you so bad you were afraid of me. Did you tell her that, too?
Answer me!" giving Bella another shake.

Bella's fear gave way to anger. "There was no need to," she said cruelly.
"Everybody knows it."

The next minute she was staggering across the kitchen from a violent blow
on the side of her head, and then, before she could recover herself or
realise what had happened, her aunt was beside her