," said nurse conclusively, "and my parasol that
always lies on the drawers was on the floor when I came in."

"Maggie," said Eleanor, "do you hear that? You must have climbed up to
the drawers."

"Yes," said Maggie; "I did."

Eleanor breathed more freely.

"What for?"

Maggie hesitated.

"I wanted the parasol to hook the leaves," she said; "I saw it when I
stood on the chair."

"Patty," said Eleanor, "go and see if there are any leaves on Maggie's
goodies."

[Illustration: THE MISSING BON-BONS

"Yes," said Maggie, "I was getting the parasol." P. 139]

Patty returned. No, there were none.

"Well, Maggie?" said Eleanor.

"I know there aren't. I didn't get them. Nurse scolded me, and I didn't
like to go back to get them."

"Was she near the window when you saw her, nurse?"

"No, miss; she was nearer to the drawers, and so was the chair."

"Yes," said Maggie, "I was getting the parasol."

Eleanor said no more, but, rather to nurse's annoyance, went herself to
the night nursery and thoroughly examined it. There was no trace of the
lost bon-bons.

"And supposing she has eaten the bon-bons, where is the box?" she said.

"She may have thrown it in the fire; very likely she didn't mean to keep
the box. She may have slipped it into her pocket in a fright," said
nurse. But no trace of it was now to be seen in Maggie's pocket.

"Maggie," said Eleanor, "I cannot send you to your room on account of
your cold. But no one is to speak to you till you confess all. I shall
ask you again at bedtime, and I trust you will then speak the truth. Now
Patty, and Edith, and Flop, remember Maggie's not to be spoken to."

"Nasty greedy thing; and not one of her own goodies eaten," muttered
Patty. "I'm sure no one will want to speak to her."

"Hush, Patty. Don't cry, Towzer darling," said Eleanor, for poor Towzer
was sobbing bitterly, though her grief was inconsistent in its objects.

"No doodies, and poor Maggie!" was her lament.

To divert her "Miss Tammell" carried her off to the drawing-room. And
thus Maggie was sent to Coventry.

By bedtime her features were hardly to be recognised, so blurred and
swollen with crying was the poor little face. But still there was no
confession. "I didn't touch Towzer's goodies," she persisted over and
over again. Eleanor's heart ached, but still duty must be done.

"How can she persist so?" she said, turning to nurse.

"Yes indeed, Miss Maggie, how can you?" said nurse. "It woul