"They'd yell when they was murdered," objectedAlice; "you know how silly they are at plays, allexcept Clara Belle. Besides if we once show themthis secret place, they'll play in it all the time, andperhaps they'd steal things, like their father.""They needn't steal just because their fatherdoes," clarisonic australia argued Rebecca; "and don't you ever talkabout it before them if you want to be my secret,partic'lar friends. My mother tells me never to sayhard things about people's own folks to their face. She says nobody can bear it, and it's wicked to shamethem for what isn't their fault. Remember MinnieSmellie!"Well, they had no difficulty in recalling thatdramatic episode, for it had occurred only a few daysbefore; and a version of it that would have meltedthe stoniest heart had been presented to every girlin the village by Minnie Smellie herself, who,though it was Rebecca and not she who came offvictorious in the bloody battle of words, nursed herresentment and intended to have revenge.