"Come, come," he went on. "It's not so very terrible, after all! We've
all of us done things we were sorry for--eh, Mrs. Chester? I'll wager
that even you have--and I know very well that there are lots of things I
can think of that I did just because I didn't think there was any harm
in them."

"Some people wouldn't admit that, General Seeley, but it's very true,"
said Mrs. Chester. "I know it is in my case."

"Well, well, can't you talk, Bessie? Aren't you going to tell me you're
sorry and that you won't do it again?"

"I'm sorry the birds were frightened," said Bessie, bravely. "But I
can't say that I won't do it again--"

"What's that? What's that? Bless me, what's the use of saying you're
sorry if you mean to do it the next time you get a chance?"

The general was flushed as he spoke, and his eyes held the same angry
look they had worn at first. Mrs. Chester sighed and decided that it was
time for her to speak.

"I don't think that was just what Bessie meant, General. I think you
didn't understand her--"

"Well, well, perhaps not! What do you mean, Bessie?"

"I mean I can't promise not to do it again, sir, because I didn't do it
at all, in the first place. Really, I didn't--"

"Oh, nonsense!" said the general, testily. "I'm ready to overlook
it--don't you understand that? All I want you to do is to confess, and
to say you're sorry. Nothing's going to happen to you!"

"I can't confess when I didn't do it," pleaded Bessie. "And if I had
done it, I'd say so, whether anything was going to happen to me or not.
That wouldn't make any difference."

General Seeley jumped to his feet.

"Oh, come, come! That's nonsense!" he said. "Who else could have done
it, eh? Answer me that! I've said I'd forgive you--"

"But, General," protested Mrs. Chester, "if Bessie didn't do it, she'd
be telling you an untruth if she said she had--and you wouldn't have her
do that?"

"I'm a just man, Mrs. Chester, but I know what's what. She must have
done it--she was around the place. And I know that none of my men did
it. They know better! No one but the game-keepers are allowed to go into
the preserve, and they all know they'd be dismissed at once if they
disobeyed my rules about that. I'm strict--very strict! I insist upon
obedience of orders and truthfulness--learned the need of them when I
was in the army. Don't you think I can tell what's going on here,
ma'am?"

"I think you're mistaken, General--that's all. I'm sure Be