“Supposing she did,” returned Frank stoutly.  “Is that what Big-Eyes was crying about?  I hate people to be touchy and blubber over a thing like that.”

“You don’t know.  Her mother works in the factory, and this was a horrid picture making fun of it.  Think of your own mother earning your living and being made fun of.”

“Ada wouldn’t do that,” replied Frank shortly.  “What made you think of such a thing?”

“It was error for me to say it,” returned Lucy, with a meek groan.  “I’ve been doing error things ever since Alma came to school.  Oh, Frank, you’re a Christian Scientist, too.  You must help me to get things straight.”

“You don’t need to be a Christian Scientist to see that it wasn’t a square deal to send the kid that picture.”

“No, I know it; but when Alma first came, Ada said her mother didn’t allow her to go with girls from the factory, and so I stopped trying to be kind to Alma, because Ada wouldn’t like me if I did; and it’s been such mesmerism, Frank.”

The boy smiled.  “Do you remember the stories your mother used to tell us about the work of the error-fairies?”

“Indeed I do.  My head’s just been full of it the last fifteen minutes.  I’ve done nothing for two weeks but give the error-fairies backbones, and I don’t care what happens to me, or how much I’m punished, if I can only do right again.”

“Who’s going to punish you?” asked Frank, not quite seeing the reason for so much feeling.

“Ada.  We’ve always had so much fun, and now it’s all over.”

“Oh, I guess not.  Ada Singer’s all right.”

Lucy didn’t think so.  She was convinced that her friend had done this last unkindness to Alma, and it was the shock of that discovery that was causing a portion of her suffering now.

Frank and Lucy talked for a few minutes longer, and it was agreed that the former should return to the school and get any other valentines that should be there for Lucy and himself; then, as soon as it grew dark, they would run to the Driscoll cottage with an offering.

Late that afternoon three mothers were called to interviews with three little girls.  Lucy Berry surprised hers by rushing in where Mrs. Berry was seated, sewing.

“Oh!” exclaimed the little girl, “I’m so sorry all over, mother!”

“Then you must know why you can’t be,” returned Mrs. Berry, looking up at the flushed face and seeing something there that made her put aside her work.

Lucy usually considered herself too large to sit in her mother’s lap, but now she did so, and flinging her arms around her neck, poured out the whole story.

“To think that Ada could send it!” finished Lucy, with one big sob.

“Be careful, be careful.  You don’t know that she did,” replied Mrs. Berry.  “‘Thou shalt not bear false witness.’”

“Oh, I do hope she didn’t,” responded Lucy, “but Ada is stuck up.  I’ve been seeing it more and more lately.”