"Why, Mehitable Lamb!" repeated Aunt Susy, "tell us this minute what has
become of Hannah Maria!"
Mehitable was silent.
"Oh," sobbed Mrs. Green, "you must tell me. Mehitable, you'll tell
Hannah Maria's mother what has become of her, won't you?"
Mehitable's mother bent over her and whispered, but Mehitable lay there
like a little stone image.
"Oh, do make her tell!" pleaded Mrs. Green.
"Come, now, tell, and I'll buy you a whole pound of candy," said Mr.
Green.
"Mehitable, you _must_ tell," said Aunt Susy.
Suddenly Mehitable began to cry. She sobbed and sobbed; her little body
shook convulsively. They all urged her to tell, but she only shook her
head between the sobs.
Grandmother Lamb came into the room. She had awakened from her nap.
"What's the matter?" she inquired. "What ails Mehitable? Is she sick?"
"Hannah Maria is lost, and Mehitable knows what has become of her, and
she won't tell," explained Aunt Susy.
"Massy sakes!" Grandmother Lamb went up to the bed. "Tell grandmother,"
she whispered, "an' she'll give you a pep'mint."
But Mehitable shook her head and sobbed.
They all pleaded and argued and commanded, but they got no reply but
that shake of the head and sobs.
"The child will be sick if she keeps on this way," said Grandmother
Lamb.
"She deserves to be sick!" said Hannah Maria's mother, in a desperate
voice; and Mehitable's mother forgave her.
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