“AmIthefirstmouseyouhavecaught，youslypussies-in-boots？“sheasked，asshewasconductedtothebigchair，suppliedwithrefreshments，andsurroundedbyaflockofmerry-facedlisteners。
　　TheytoldheraboutSilasandhiscontribution，andsheslappedherforeheadindespair，forshewasquiteatherwits’end，beingcalleduponsounexpectedlyforabrannewtale。
　　“WhatshallItellabout？“shesaid。
　　“Boys，“wasthegeneralanswer。
　　“Haveapartyinit，“saidDaisy。
　　“Andsomethinggoodtoeat，“addedStuffy。
　　“Thatremindsmeofastory，writtenyearsago，byadearoldlady。
　　Iusedtobeveryfondofit，andIfancyyouwilllikeit，forithasbothboys，and’somethinggoodtoeat’init。“
　　“Whatisitcalled？“askedDemi。
　　“’TheSuspectedBoy。’“
　　Natlookedupfromthenutshewaspicking，andMrs。Josmiledathim，guessingwhatwasinhismind。
　　“MissCranekeptaschoolforboysinaquietlittletown，andaverygoodschoolitwas，oftheold-fashionedsort。Sixboyslivedinherhouse，andfourorfivemorecameinfromthetown。AmongthosewholivedwithherwasonenamedLewisWhite。Lewiswasnotabadboy，butrathertimid，andnowandthenhetoldalie。OnedayaneighborsentMissCraneabasketofgooseberries。Therewerenotenoughtogoround，sokindMissCrane，wholikedtopleaseherboys，wenttoworkandmadeadozennicelittlegooseberrytarts。“
　　“I’dliketotrygooseberrytarts。IwonderifshemadethemasIdomyraspberryones，“saidDaisy，whoseinterestincookinghadlatelyrevived。
　　“Hush，“saidNat，tuckingaplumppop-cornintohermouthtosilenceher，forhefeltaparticularinterestinthistale，andthoughtitopenedwell。
　　“Whenthetartsweredone，MissCraneputthemawayinthebestparlorcloset，andsaidnotawordaboutthem，forshewantedtosurprisetheboysattea-time。Whentheminutecameandallwereseatedattable，shewenttogethertarts，butcamebacklookingmuchtroubled，forwhatdoyouthinkhadhappened？“
　　“Somebodyhadhookedthem!“criedNed。
　　“No，theretheywere，butsomeonehadstolenallthefruitoutofthembyliftinguptheuppercrustandthenputtingitdownafterthegooseberryhadbeenscrapedout。“
　　“Whatameantrick!“andNanlookedatTommy，asiftoimplythathewoulddothesame。
　　“Whenshetoldtheboysherplanandshowedthemthepoorlittlepattiesallrobbedoftheirsweetness，theboysweremuchgrievedanddisappointed，andalldeclaredthattheyknewnothingaboutthematter。’Perhapstheratsdidit，’saidLewis，whowasamongtheloudesttodenyanyknowledgeofthetarts。’No，ratswouldhavenibbledcrustandall，andneverlifteditupandscoopedoutthefruit。Handsdidthat，’saidMissCrane，whowasmoretroubledabouttheliethatsomeonemusthavetoldthanaboutherlostpatties。Well，theyhadsupperandwenttobed，butinthenightMissCraneheardsomeonegroaning，andgoingtoseewhoitwasshefoundLewisingreatpain。Hehadevidentlyeatensomethingthatdisagreedwithhim，andwassosickthatMissCranewasalarmed，andwasgoingtosendforthedoctor，whenLewismoanedout，’It’sthegooseberries；Iatethem，andImusttellbeforeIdie，’forthethoughtofadoctorfrightenedhim。’Ifthatisall，I’llgiveyouanemeticandyouwillsoongetoverit，’saidMissCrane。SoLewishadagooddose，andbymorningwasquitecomfortable。’Oh，don’ttelltheboys；theywilllaughatmeso，’beggedtheinvalid。KindMissCranepromisednotto，butSally，thegirl，toldthestory，andpoorLewishadnopeaceforalongtime。HismatescalledhimOldGooseberry，andwerenevertiredofaskinghimthepriceoftarts。“
　　“Servedhimright，“saidEmil。
　　“Badnessalwaysgetsfoundout，“addedDemi，morally。
　　“No，itdon’t，“mutteredJack，whowastendingtheappleswithgreatdevotion，sothathemightkeephisbacktotherestandaccountforhisredface。
　　“Isthatall？“askedDan。
　　“No，thatisonlythefirstpart；thesecondpartismoreinteresting。
　　Sometimeafterthisapeddlercamebyonedayandstoppedtoshowhisthingstotheboys，severalofwhomboughtpocket-combs，jew’s-harps，andvarioustriflesofthatsort。Amongthekniveswasalittlewhite-handledpenknifethatLewiswantedverymuch，buthehadspentallhispocket-money，andnoonehadanytolendhim。Heheldtheknifeinhishand，admiringandlongingforit，tillthemanpackeduphisgoodstogo，thenhereluctantlylaiditdown，andthemanwentonhisway。Thenextday，however，thepeddlerreturnedtosaythathecouldnotfindthatveryknife，andthoughthemusthaveleftitatMissCrane’s。Itwasaveryniceonewithapearlhandle，andhecouldnotaffordtoloseit。Everyonelooked，andeveryonedeclaredtheyknewnothingaboutit。’Thisyounggentlemanhaditlast，andseemedtowantitverymuch。Areyouquitesureyouputitback？’saidthemantoLewis，whowasmuchtroubledattheloss，andvowedoverandoveragainthathedidreturnit。Hisdenialsseemedtodonogood，however，foreveryonewassurehehadtakenit，andafterastormysceneMissCranepaidforit，andthemanwentgrumblingaway。“
　　“DidLewishaveit？“criedNat，muchexcited。
　　“Youwillsee。NowpoorLewishadanothertrialtobear，fortheboyswereconstantlysaying，’Lendmeyourpearl-handledknife，Gooseberry，’
　　andthingsofthatsort，tillLewiswassounhappyhebeggedtobesenthome。MissCranedidherbesttokeeptheboysquiet，butitwashardwork，fortheywouldtease，andshecouldnotbewiththemallthetime。Thatisoneofthehardestthingstoteachboys；theywon’t’hitafellowwhenheisdown，’astheysay，buttheywilltormenthiminlittlewaystillhewouldthankthemtofightitoutallround。“
　　“Iknowthat，“saidDan。
　　“SodoI，“addedNat，softly。
　　Jacksaidnothing，buthequiteagreed；forheknewthattheelderboysdespisedhim，andlethimaloneforthatveryreason。
　　“DogoonaboutpoorLewis，AuntJo。Idon’tbelievehetooktheknife，butIwanttobesure，“saidDaisy，ingreatanxiety。
　　“Well，weekafterweekwentonandthematterwasnotclearedup。TheboysavoidedLewis，andhe，poorfellow，wasalmostsickwiththetroublehehadbroughtuponhimself。Heresolvednevertotellanotherlie，andtriedsohardthatMissCranepitiedandhelpedhim，andreallycameatlasttobelievethathedidnottaketheknife。Twomonthsafterthepeddler’sfirstvisit，hecameagain，andthefirstthinghesaidwas­；
　　“’Well，ma’am，Ifoundthatknifeafterall。Ithadslippedbehindtheliningofmyvalise，andfellouttheotherdaywhenIwasputtinginanewstockofgoods。IthoughtI’dcallandletyouknow，asyoupaidforit，andmaybewouldlikeit，sohereitis。’“
　　“Theboyshadallgatheredround，andatthesewordstheyfeltmuchashamed，andbeggedLewis’pardonsoheartilythathecouldnotrefusetogiveit。MissCranepresentedtheknifetohim，andhekeptitmanyyearstoremindhimofthefaultthathadbroughthimsomuchtrouble。“
　　“Iwonderwhyitisthatthingsyoueatontheslyhurtyou，anddon’twhenyoueatthemattable，“observedStuffy，thoughtfully。
　　“Perhapsyourconscienceaffectsyourstomach，“saidMrs。Jo，smilingathisspeech。
　　“Heisthinkingofthecucumbers，“saidNed，andagaleofmerrimentfollowedthewords，forStuffy’slastmishaphadbeenafunnyone。
　　Heatetwolargecucumbersinprivate，feltveryill，andconfidedhisanguishtoNed，imploringhimtodosomething。Nedgood-naturedlyrecommendedamustardplasterandahotflatirontothefeet；onlyinapplyingtheseremedieshereversedtheorderofthings，andputtheplasteronthefeet，theflatirononthestomach，andpoorStuffywasfoundinthebarnwithblisteredsolesandascorchedjacket。
　　“Supposeyoutellanotherstory，thatwassuchaninterestingone，“
　　saidNat，asthelaughtersubsided。
　　BeforeMrs。JocouldrefusetheseinsatiableOliverTwists，Robwalkedintotheroomtrailinghislittlebed-coverafterhim，andwearinganexpressionofgreatsweetnessashesaid，steeringstraighttohismotherasasurehavenofrefuge，­；
　　“Iheardagreatnoise，andIthoughtsumfindrefflemighthavehappened，soIcametosee。“
　　“DidyouthinkIwouldforgetyou，naughtyboy？“askedhismother，tryingtolookstern。
　　“No；butIthoughtyou’dfeelbettertoseemerighthere，“respondedtheinsinuatinglittleparty。
　　“Ihadmuchratherseeyouinbed，somarchstraightupagain，Robin。“
　　“Everybodythatcomesinherehastotellastory，andyoucan’tsoyou’dbettercutandrun，“saidEmil。
　　“Yes，Ican!ItellTeddylotsofones，allaboutbearsandmoons，andlittlefliesthatsaythingswhentheybuzz，“protestedRob，boundtostayatanyprice。
　　“Tellonenow，then，rightaway，“saidDan，preparingtoshoulderandbearhimoff。
　　“Well，Iwill；letmefinkaminute，“andRobclimbedintohismother’slap，wherehewascuddled，withtheremark­；
　　“Itisafamilyfailing，thisgettingoutofbedatwrongtimes。Demiusedtodoit；andasforme，Iwashoppinginandoutallnightlong。
　　Megusedtothinkthehousewasonfire，andsendmedowntosee，andI
　　usedtostayandenjoymyself，asyoumeanto，mybadson。“
　　“I’vefinkednow，“observedRob，quiteathisease，andeagertowintheentreeintothisdelightfulcircle。
　　EveryonelookedandlistenedwithfacesfullofsuppressedmerrimentasRob，perchedonhismother’skneeandwrappedinthegaycoverlet，toldthefollowingbriefbuttragictalewithanearnestnessthatmadeitveryfunny：­；
　　“Oncealadyhadamillionchildren，andonenicelittleboy。Shewentup-stairsandsaid，’Youmustn’tgointheyard。’Buthewented，andfellintothepump，andwasdrowneddead。“
　　“Isthatall？“askedFranz，asRobpausedoutofbreathwiththisstartlingbeginning。
　　“No，thereisanotherpieceofit，“andRobknithisdownyeyebrowsintheefforttoevolveanotherinspiration。
　　“Whatdidtheladydowhenhefellintothepump？“askedhismother，tohelphimon。
　　“Oh，shepumpedhimup，andwrappedhiminanewspaper，andputhimonashelftodryforseed。“
　　Ageneralexplosionoflaughtergreetedthissurprisingconclusion，andMrs。Jopattedthecurlyhead，asshesaid，solemnly，­；
　　“Myson，youinherityourmother’sgiftofstory-telling。Gowhereglorywaitsthee。“
　　“NowIcanstay，can’tI？Wasn’titagoodstory？“criedRob，inhighfeatherathissuperbsuccess。
　　“Youcanstaytillyouhaveeatenthesetwelvepop-corns，“saidhismother，expectingtoseethemvanishatonemouthful。
　　ButRobwasashrewdlittleman，andgotthebetterofherbyeatingthemonebyoneveryslowly，andenjoyingeveryminutewithallhismight。
　　“Hadn’tyoubettertelltheotherstory，whileyouwaitforhim？“saidDemi，anxiousthatnotimeshouldbelost。
　　“Ireallyhavenothingbutalittletaleaboutawood-box，“saidMrs。
　　Jo，seeingthatRobhadstillsevencornstoeat。
　　“Isthereaboyinit？“
　　“Itisallboy。“
　　“Isittrue？“askedDemi。
　　“Everybitofit。“
　　“Goody!tellon，please。“
　　“JamesSnowandhismotherlivedinalittlehouse，upinNewHampshire。
　　Theywerepoor，andJameshadtoworktohelphismother，buthelovedbookssowellhehatedwork，andjustwantedtositandstudyalldaylong。“
　　“Howcouldhe!Ihatebooks，andlikework，“saidDan，objectingtoJamesattheveryoutset。
　　“Ittakesallsortsofpeopletomakeaworld；workersandstudentsbothareneeded，andthereisroomforall。ButIthinktheworkersshouldstudysome，andthestudentsshouldknowhowtoworkifnecessary，“answeredMrs。Jo，lookingfromDantoDemiwithasignificantexpression。
　　“I’msureIdowork，“andDemishowedthreesmallhardspotsinhislittlepalm，withpride。