'To make you
believe that the beautiful work-box Uncle Edward sent you, was a case
of surgical instruments for Mr. Turner, to shew his gratitude for his
attendance upon Rupert when he had the fever, and for setting his
mouth to rights when his teeth were knocked out at school. Oh! there
never was such fun as to see how frightened you looked, and how
curious Kate and Horace were, and how Mamma begged him not to open
the box and shew her the horrid things.'
'I wish Rupert would keep to the truth with his jokes,' said Helen.
'Helen,' said Elizabeth, 'you cannot mean to say that he ever says
what is untrue. You are letting yourself be carried much too far by
your dislike.'
'If he does not positively assert what is not true, he often makes
people believe it,' said Helen.
'Only stupid people, who have no perception of a joke,' said
Elizabeth; 'he never deceived me with any joke; it is only that you
do not understand.'
'I wonder how such a candid person as you are, can defend the
slightest departure from truth for any purpose,' said Helen.
'I would not defend anyone whom I did not believe to be upright and
open,' said Elizabeth; 'but it is only your slowness, and old spite
against Rupert because he used to joke you, that puts these fancies
into your head.
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