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The Magic
"Pickingandstealing!Halfameatpie,indeed!"
"’Twarn’tme,"weptBecky."Icould’aveeatawholeun—butIneverlaidafingeronit."
MissMinchinwasoutofbreathbetweentemperandmountingthestairs.Themeatpiehadbeenintendedforherspeciallatesupper.ItbecameapparentthatsheboxedBecky’sears.
"Don’ttellfalsehoods,"shesaid."Gotoyourroomthisinstant."
BothSaraandErmengardeheardtheslap,andthenheardBeckyruninherslipshodshoesupthestairsandintoherattic.Theyheardherdoorshut,andknewthatshethrewherselfuponherbed.
"Icould’avee’ttwoof’em,"theyheardhercryintoherpillow."An’Inevertookabite.’Twascookgiveittoherpoliceman."
Sarastoodinthemiddleoftheroominthedarkness.Shewasclenchingherlittleteethandopeningandshuttingfiercelyheroutstretchedhands.Shecouldscarcelystandstill,butshedarednotmoveuntilMissMinchinhadgonedownthestairsandallwasstill.
"Thewicked,cruelthing!"sheburstforth."ThecooktakesthingsherselfandthensaysBeckystealsthem.SheDOESN’T!SheDOESN’T!She’ssohungrysometimesthatsheeatscrustsoutoftheashbarrel!"Shepressedherhandshardagainstherfaceandburstintopassionatelittlesobs,andErmengarde,hearingthisunusualthing,wasoverawedbyit.Sarawascrying!TheunconquerableSara!Itseemedtodenotesomethingnew—somemoodshehadneverknown.
