y, and one very easily
answered.

'To the Regent's Park, papa,' said Julia; 'but we were there only a
short time.'

'Now just one more question, and I have done,' said papa; 'did either of
you girls lose anything while you were out?'

'Oh, papa, yes,' answered Julia instantly--'mamma's brooch. Oh, have you
found it, papa?' she exclaimed.

'Mamma's brooch!' said Mr. Ellis, with a look of assumed astonishment.
'Why, which of you presumed to wear your mamma's brooch?' But he added
almost immediately, 'I need not inquire further: I am sorry to say I
have had some sad experience of deception in my eldest daughter, and
have observed in her that silly vanity, that makes outside show a cover
for inward defects. Go!' he added sternly to Mabel; 'I have nothing
more to say to you to-night. It nearly sickens me to think that I have a
daughter base enough to conceal faults, which she is not afraid of
committing.'

With conscious shame and distress, Mabel quitted the dining-room; and
Julia also was retreating, when her papa told her to remain, as he had
something to say to her.

Though Julia felt very sorry for her sister, and would have been glad to
speak a word of comfort to her, yet she was so anxious to hear from her
papa something about the lost brooch, that she was not at all reluctant
to remain; so planting herself by her mother's side, she stood patiently
to listen to what further Mr. Ellis had to say.

'Did you know, Julia, that Mabel had on your mamma's brooch when you
went for a walk?' inquired papa.

Julia hung down her head, yet she answered truthfully;

'Yes, papa, I did know, for I begged her not to wear it.'

'And when she persisted in doing so, why did you not appeal to your
mamma?'

To this question there came no response, so Mr. Ellis continued:

'Let me warn you, my little girl,' he said kindly, 'never to connive at
faults in your brothers or sisters; it is to them a cruel kindness,
which both they and you may live to be sorry for in after life.'

As Mr. Ellis said this, he drew from his waistcoat-pocket the glittering
trinket, which had been the innocent cause of so much anxiety, and
placing it in his wife's hand, said:

'Now, my dear, I advise you to be more careful of your _jewels_, or you
may lose far more precious ones than this brooch.'

As he made this remark he nodded to Julia, though Mrs. Ellis well
understood what her husband meant.

'Now, my little girl, you may go and join the chil