he supposed, but alas! instead of winning the minnows she lost the
jug! The handle grew slippery when wet, and away it went out of her
hand, falling with a crash on a big stone, and lying in fragments on
the gravel beneath the water.

Juliet was in consternation. "I say, what a scolding I shall get! Even
mother used to scold a little sometimes when I smashed so much
crockery. And Aunt Emma--and that dreadful cross Uncle Rowles--!"

The child gasped for breath, but returned indoors where her aunt was
putting away the remains of the breakfast.

"Why, Juliet, child, you look scared. Have you fetched the water?"

"No, aunt; 'cause I've broke the jug."

"Broke the jug! What jug?"

"The jug I took to get the water in. As soon as ever I put it in the
river it just slipped away and went into pieces."

"Dear, dear! Which jug was it?"

"It was a yellow one with blue flowers on it."

"Oh, that one!" and Mrs. Rowles's face cleared. "If it was only that
old one with the broken spout and the cracked handle I really don't
care a bit."

"I am always so unlucky with crockery," said Juliet. "I've broke
enough in my time to pave Cheapside--jugs and cups and basins."

"Oh, child!" said her aunt, shocked at the exaggeration.

"That's what the people in our house used to say every time I broke
anything. I'm always unlucky."

"Well, never mind; this time you've been very clever. That yellow jug
was horrid ugly, and being shabby at the spout and the handle, I often
wished it would get itself broken instead of the pretty new ones. I'm
quite glad you've broken it; I think you were very clever to break
that one."

So said the kind aunt, hoping to soothe Juliet's sorrow for her
awkwardness and carelessness. This sort of praise was quite new to the
child. To be praised instead of reproved for her stupidity, to be met
with smiles rather than sighs, was something so uncommon that Juliet
almost believed that she really had done a clever and useful deed.
After a few minutes she quite believed it, and held up her head,
taking credit for her breakage which was so clever and so amusing.

Then Mrs. Rowles called Emily and bade her take Juliet to the well and
show her how to draw a bucket of water. A loud scream was heard, and
Mrs. Rowles's heart almost ceased beating, so fearful was she that one
of the children had fallen into the well. She ran out to the back of
the house, and saw the two girls standing together with consternation
on th