THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 135 



The back door opened, and, to their infinite astonishment, 

 their mother stood before them. 



" Why, Kate ! Out so early ? " 



"Here's mother," said Kate to her brother. "The 

 cat'll have to jump, surely." 



" She will tell." 



" We will ask her not to." 



" You won't tell father, will you, mother ? " 



" Tell him of this ?" 



"No, but you see, I was out in the night," said 

 Johnny, honestly. 



"Out in the night ! That is a very serious thing. I 

 must acquaint your father of it at once." 



"0 mother, mother!" exclaimed both. "Don't. We 

 did not mean to do wrong, and we are both to blame. " 



Mrs. Wellson looked from one to the other. Plainly 

 they had spoken the truth. After a pause, she said,, 

 " This is very serious. Go to the dining-room, Johnny, 

 and wait till I come. And you, Kate, how happens it 

 your dress is so wet round the bottom ? " 



" mother, perhaps we were dreadful wicked, but we 

 will tell you all." 



Like good children they met their mother in the dining- 

 room, and told her all. When the story -was finished Mrs. 

 Wellson sat down perplexed. 



Such proceedings were certainly not right, and yet no 



