THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 145 



CHAPTER IV. 



THINGS GET EXPLAINED. 



THE Wellson breakfast-room the next morning. 

 Johnny gazing aimlessly from the window, and wondering 

 how things were going to come out. All the plates on the 

 table turned down, and under one something attractive, but 

 not edible. 



Kate appeared upon the scene. 



"0 Johnny, have you got back? What luck, my 

 boy?" 



" Not much this time. Bad fall in the market." 



" What ! did you tumble down and spill the berries? " 



Johnny laughed in spite of himself, and would have ex- 

 plained had not the rest of the family appeared just 

 then. 



They all sat down apparently unconcerned, but with all, 

 save Mr. Wellson, in a flutter of excitement. The climax 

 came when Mr. Wellson turned his plate over and dis- 

 covered a small pile of rather dirty scrip beneath it. 



"What is this?" said he. " Did I leave it here last 

 night?" 



" No," said his wife. " It was not yours till now." 



