She said, with some impatience, "I am in a
hurry, sir, and would like to have you hand me the change as soon as
you can."
"I have no doubt of it," said the baker, his manner changing; "but
you cannot go just yet."
"And why not?" asked Ida, her eyes flashing.
"Because you have been trying to deceive me."
"I trying to deceive you!" exclaimed the child, in astonishment.
"Really," thought Mr. Crump, "she does it well, but no doubt they
train her to it. It is perfectly shocking, such depravity in a
child."
"Don't you remember buying something here a week ago?" he said, in
as stern a tone as his good nature would allow him to employ.
"Yes," said Ida, promptly; "I bought two rolls at three cents a
piece."
"And what did you offer me in payment?"
"I handed you a silver dollar."
"Like this?" asked Mr. Crump, holding up the coin.
"Yes, sir."
"And do you mean to say," said the baker, sternly, "that you didn't
know it was bad when you handed it to me?"
"Bad!" exclaimed Ida, in great surprise.
"Yes, spurious. It wasn't worth one tenth of a dollar."
"And is this like it?"
"Precisely."
"Indeed, sir, I didn't know anything about it," said Ida, earnestly,
"I hope you will believe me when I say that I thought it was good."
"I don't know what to think," said the baker, perplexed.
"I don't know whether to believe you or not," said he.
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