“AmIthefirstmouseyouhavecaught，youslypussies-in-boots？“sheasked，asshewasconductedtothebigchair，suppliedwithrefreshments，andsurroundedbyaflockofmerry-facedlisteners。
TheytoldheraboutSilasandhiscontribution，andsheslappedherforeheadindespair，forshewasquiteatherwits’end，beingcalleduponsounexpectedlyforabrannewtale。
“WhatshallItellabout？“shesaid。
“Boys，“wasthegeneralanswer。
“Haveapartyinit，“saidDaisy。
“Andsomethinggoodtoeat，“addedStuffy。
“Thatremindsmeofastory，writtenyearsago，byadearoldlady。
Iusedtobeveryfondofit，andIfancyyouwilllikeit，forithasbothboys，and’somethinggoodtoeat’init。“
“Whatisitcalled？“askedDemi。
“’TheSuspectedBoy。’“
Natlookedupfromthenutshewaspicking，andMrs。Josmiledathim，guessingwhatwasinhismind。
“MissCranekeptaschoolforboysinaquietlittletown，andaverygoodschoolitwas，oftheold-fashionedsort。Sixboyslivedinherhouse，andfourorfivemorecameinfromthetown。AmongthosewholivedwithherwasonenamedLewisWhite。Lewiswasnotabadboy，butrathertimid，andnowandthenhetoldalie。OnedayaneighborsentMissCraneabasketofgooseberries。Therewerenotenoughtogoround，sokindMissCrane，wholikedtopleaseherboys，wenttoworkandmadeadozennicelittlegooseberrytarts。“
“I’dliketotrygooseberrytarts。IwonderifshemadethemasIdomyraspberryones，“saidDaisy，whoseinterestincookinghadlatelyrevived。
“Hush，“saidNat，tuckingaplumppop-cornintohermouthtosilenceher，forhefeltaparticularinterestinthistale，andthoughtitopenedwell。
“Whenthetartsweredone，MissCraneputthemawayinthebestparlorcloset，andsaidnotawordaboutthem，forshewantedtosurprisetheboysattea-time。Whentheminutecameandallwereseatedattable，shewenttogethertarts，butcamebacklookingmuchtroubled，forwhatdoyouthinkhadhappened？“
“Somebodyhadhookedthem!“criedNed。
“No，theretheywere，butsomeonehadstolenallthefruitoutofthembyliftinguptheuppercrustandthenputtingitdownafterthegooseberryhadbeenscrapedout。“
“Whatameantrick!“andNanlookedatTommy，asiftoimplythathewoulddothesame。
“Whenshetoldtheboysherplanandshowedthemthepoorlittlepattiesallrobbedoftheirsweetness，theboysweremuchgrievedanddisappointed，andalldeclaredthattheyknewnothingaboutthematter。’Perhapstheratsdidit，’saidLewis，whowasamongtheloudesttodenyanyknowledgeofthetarts。’No，ratswouldhavenibbledcrustandall，andneverlifteditupandscoopedoutthefruit。Handsdidthat，’saidMissCrane，whowasmoretroubledabouttheliethatsomeonemusthavetoldthanaboutherlostpatties。Well，theyhadsupperandwenttobed，butinthenightMissCraneheardsomeonegroaning，andgoingtoseewhoitwasshefoundLewisingreatpain。Hehadevidentlyeatensomethingthatdisagreedwithhim，andwassosickthatMissCranewasalarmed，andwasgoingtosendforthedoctor，whenLewismoanedout，’It’sthegooseberries；Iatethem，andImusttellbeforeIdie，’forthethoughtofadoctorfrightenedhim。’Ifthatisall，I’llgiveyouanemeticandyouwillsoongetoverit，’saidMissCrane。SoLewishadagooddose，andbymorningwasquitecomfortable。’Oh，don’ttelltheboys；theywilllaughatmeso，’beggedtheinvalid。KindMissCranepromisednotto，butSally，thegirl，toldthestory，andpoorLewishadnopeaceforalongtime。HismatescalledhimOldGooseberry，andwerenevertiredofaskinghimthepriceoftarts。“
“Servedhimright，“saidEmil。
“Badnessalwaysgetsfoundout，“addedDemi，morally。
“No，itdon’t，“mutteredJack，whowastendingtheappleswithgreatdevotion，sothathemightkeephisbacktotherestandaccountforhisredface。
“Isthatall？“askedDan。
“No，thatisonlythefirstpart；thesecondpartismoreinteresting。
Sometimeafterthisapeddlercamebyonedayandstoppedtoshowhisthingstotheboys，severalofwhomboughtpocket-combs，jew’s-harps，andvarioustriflesofthatsort。Amongthekniveswasalittlewhite-handledpenknifethatLewiswantedverymuch，buthehadspentallhispocket-money，andnoonehadanytolendhim。Heheldtheknifeinhishand，admiringandlongingforit，tillthemanpackeduphisgoodstogo，thenhereluctantlylaiditdown，andthemanwentonhisway。Thenextday，however，thepeddlerreturnedtosaythathecouldnotfindthatveryknife，andthoughthemusthaveleftitatMissCrane’s。Itwasaveryniceonewithapearlhandle，andhecouldnotaffordtoloseit。Everyonelooked，andeveryonedeclaredtheyknewnothingaboutit。’Thisyounggentlemanhaditlast，andseemedtowantitverymuch。Areyouquitesureyouputitback？’saidthemantoLewis，whowasmuchtroubledattheloss，andvowedoverandoveragainthathedidreturnit。Hisdenialsseemedtodonogood，however，foreveryonewassurehehadtakenit，andafterastormysceneMissCranepaidforit，andthemanwentgrumblingaway。“
“DidLewishaveit？“criedNat，muchexcited。
“Youwillsee。NowpoorLewishadanothertrialtobear，fortheboyswereconstantlysaying，’Lendmeyourpearl-handledknife，Gooseberry，’
andthingsofthatsort，tillLewiswassounhappyhebeggedtobesenthome。MissCranedidherbesttokeeptheboysquiet，butitwashardwork，fortheywouldtease，andshecouldnotbewiththemallthetime。Thatisoneofthehardestthingstoteachboys；theywon’t’hitafellowwhenheisdown，’astheysay，buttheywilltormenthiminlittlewaystillhewouldthankthemtofightitoutallround。“
“Iknowthat，“saidDan。
“SodoI，“addedNat，softly。
Jacksaidnothing，buthequiteagreed；forheknewthattheelderboysdespisedhim，andlethimaloneforthatveryreason。
“DogoonaboutpoorLewis，AuntJo。Idon’tbelievehetooktheknife，butIwanttobesure，“saidDaisy，ingreatanxiety。
“Well，weekafterweekwentonandthematterwasnotclearedup。TheboysavoidedLewis，andhe，poorfellow，wasalmostsickwiththetroublehehadbroughtuponhimself。Heresolvednevertotellanotherlie，andtriedsohardthatMissCranepitiedandhelpedhim，andreallycameatlasttobelievethathedidnottaketheknife。Twomonthsafterthepeddler’sfirstvisit，hecameagain，andthefirstthinghesaidwas­；
“’Well，ma’am，Ifoundthatknifeafterall。Ithadslippedbehindtheliningofmyvalise，andfellouttheotherdaywhenIwasputtinginanewstockofgoods。IthoughtI’dcallandletyouknow，asyoupaidforit，andmaybewouldlikeit，sohereitis。’“
“Theboyshadallgatheredround，andatthesewordstheyfeltmuchashamed，andbeggedLewis’pardonsoheartilythathecouldnotrefusetogiveit。MissCranepresentedtheknifetohim，andhekeptitmanyyearstoremindhimofthefaultthathadbroughthimsomuchtrouble。“
“Iwonderwhyitisthatthingsyoueatontheslyhurtyou，anddon’twhenyoueatthemattable，“observedStuffy，thoughtfully。
“Perhapsyourconscienceaffectsyourstomach，“saidMrs。Jo，smilingathisspeech。
“Heisthinkingofthecucumbers，“saidNed，andagaleofmerrimentfollowedthewords，forStuffy’slastmishaphadbeenafunnyone。
Heatetwolargecucumbersinprivate，feltveryill，andconfidedhisanguishtoNed，imploringhimtodosomething。Nedgood-naturedlyrecommendedamustardplasterandahotflatirontothefeet；onlyinapplyingtheseremedieshereversedtheorderofthings，andputtheplasteronthefeet，theflatirononthestomach，andpoorStuffywasfoundinthebarnwithblisteredsolesandascorchedjacket。
“Supposeyoutellanotherstory，thatwassuchaninterestingone，“
saidNat，asthelaughtersubsided。
BeforeMrs。JocouldrefusetheseinsatiableOliverTwists，Robwalkedintotheroomtrailinghislittlebed-coverafterhim，andwearinganexpressionofgreatsweetnessashesaid，steeringstraighttohismotherasasurehavenofrefuge，­；
“Iheardagreatnoise，andIthoughtsumfindrefflemighthavehappened，soIcametosee。“
“DidyouthinkIwouldforgetyou，naughtyboy？“askedhismother，tryingtolookstern。
“No；butIthoughtyou’dfeelbettertoseemerighthere，“respondedtheinsinuatinglittleparty。
“Ihadmuchratherseeyouinbed，somarchstraightupagain，Robin。“
“Everybodythatcomesinherehastotellastory，andyoucan’tsoyou’dbettercutandrun，“saidEmil。
“Yes，Ican!ItellTeddylotsofones，allaboutbearsandmoons，andlittlefliesthatsaythingswhentheybuzz，“protestedRob，boundtostayatanyprice。
“Tellonenow，then，rightaway，“saidDan，preparingtoshoulderandbearhimoff。
“Well，Iwill；letmefinkaminute，“andRobclimbedintohismother’slap，wherehewascuddled，withtheremark­；
“Itisafamilyfailing，thisgettingoutofbedatwrongtimes。Demiusedtodoit；andasforme，Iwashoppinginandoutallnightlong。
Megusedtothinkthehousewasonfire，andsendmedowntosee，andI
usedtostayandenjoymyself，asyoumeanto，mybadson。“
“I’vefinkednow，“observedRob，quiteathisease，andeagertowintheentreeintothisdelightfulcircle。
EveryonelookedandlistenedwithfacesfullofsuppressedmerrimentasRob，perchedonhismother’skneeandwrappedinthegaycoverlet，toldthefollowingbriefbuttragictalewithanearnestnessthatmadeitveryfunny：­；
“Oncealadyhadamillionchildren，andonenicelittleboy。Shewentup-stairsandsaid，’Youmustn’tgointheyard。’Buthewented，andfellintothepump，andwasdrowneddead。“
“Isthatall？“askedFranz，asRobpausedoutofbreathwiththisstartlingbeginning。
“No，thereisanotherpieceofit，“andRobknithisdownyeyebrowsintheefforttoevolveanotherinspiration。
“Whatdidtheladydowhenhefellintothepump？“askedhismother，tohelphimon。
“Oh，shepumpedhimup，andwrappedhiminanewspaper，andputhimonashelftodryforseed。“
Ageneralexplosionoflaughtergreetedthissurprisingconclusion，andMrs。Jopattedthecurlyhead，asshesaid，solemnly，­；
“Myson，youinherityourmother’sgiftofstory-telling。Gowhereglorywaitsthee。“
“NowIcanstay，can’tI？Wasn’titagoodstory？“criedRob，inhighfeatherathissuperbsuccess。
“Youcanstaytillyouhaveeatenthesetwelvepop-corns，“saidhismother，expectingtoseethemvanishatonemouthful。
ButRobwasashrewdlittleman，andgotthebetterofherbyeatingthemonebyoneveryslowly，andenjoyingeveryminutewithallhismight。
“Hadn’tyoubettertelltheotherstory，whileyouwaitforhim？“saidDemi，anxiousthatnotimeshouldbelost。
“Ireallyhavenothingbutalittletaleaboutawood-box，“saidMrs。
Jo，seeingthatRobhadstillsevencornstoeat。
“Isthereaboyinit？“
“Itisallboy。“
“Isittrue？“askedDemi。
“Everybitofit。“
“Goody!tellon，please。“
“JamesSnowandhismotherlivedinalittlehouse，upinNewHampshire。
Theywerepoor，andJameshadtoworktohelphismother，buthelovedbookssowellhehatedwork，andjustwantedtositandstudyalldaylong。“
“Howcouldhe!Ihatebooks，andlikework，“saidDan，objectingtoJamesattheveryoutset。
“Ittakesallsortsofpeopletomakeaworld；workersandstudentsbothareneeded，andthereisroomforall。ButIthinktheworkersshouldstudysome，andthestudentsshouldknowhowtoworkifnecessary，“answeredMrs。Jo，lookingfromDantoDemiwithasignificantexpression。
“I’msureIdowork，“andDemishowedthreesmallhardspotsinhislittlepalm，withpride。