"Stop crying then, daughter," he said kindly, "and tell me all
about it. I know there was some trouble between you and Enna, and
I want you to tell me all that occurred, and every word spoken by
either of you, as well as all that passed between Mrs. Dinsmore,
your grandfather, and yourself. I am very glad that I can trust my
little girl to speak the truth. I am quite sure she would not tell
a falsehood even to save herself from punishment," he added
tenderly.
"Thank you, dear papa, for saying that," said Elsie, raising her
head and almost smiling through her tears. "I will _try_ to
tell it just as it happened."
She then told her story simply and truthfully, repeating, as he
bade her, every word that had passed between Enna and herself, and
between her and her grandparents. Her words to her grandfather
sounded very different, repeated in her quiet, respectful tones;
and when she added that if he would have allowed her, she was
going on to explain that it was not any unwillingness to oblige
Enna, but the fear of doing wrong, that led her to refuse her
request, her father thought that after all she deserved very
little blame.
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