What's the matter, Maggie, you look so fagged? She's
losing all her beauty, is not she, Edward? Where's breakfast? I thought I
should find all ready. What's the matter? Why don't you speak?" said she,
growing anxious at their silence. Maggie left the explanation to Edward.
"Mother," said he, "I've been rather a naughty boy, and got into some
trouble; but Maggie is going to help me out of it, like a good sister."
"What is it?" said Mrs. Browne, looking bewildered and uneasy.
"Oh--I took a little liberty with our friend Mr. Buxton's name; and wrote
it down to a receipt--that was all."
Mrs. Browne's face showed that the light came but slowly into her mind.
"But that's forgery--is not it?" asked she at length, in terror.
"People call it so," said Edward; "I call it borrowing from an old friend,
who was always willing to lend."
"Does he know?--is he angry?" asked Mrs. Browne.
"Yes, he knows; and he blusters a deal. He was working himself up grandly
at first. Maggie! I was getting rarely frightened, I can tell you."
"Has he been here?" said Mrs. Browne, in bewildered fright.
"Oh, yes! he and Maggie have been having a long talk, while I was hid in
the china-closet. I would not go over that half-hour again for any money.
However, he and Maggie came to terms, at last."
"No, Edward, we did not!" said Maggie, in a low quivering voice.
"Very nearly.
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