"Always you and your 'oughtn't.'" She turned, and her shoulders brushed a low bracket that was close to the door.

A large Nankin vase was at her feet, scattered into a thousand pieces.

Even Mary's proud indifference was stirred by this catastrophe, and she was down on her knees in an instant, trying to pick up the pieces.

Barbara stared, her eyes wide with horror.
"Oh, Mary," she gasped.
"You might help instead of just standing there!" Then the door opened and, like the avenging gods from Olympus, in came the two ladies, eagerly, with smiles.
"Now I must just show you," began Mrs.Adams.Then the catastrophe was discovered--a moment's silence, then a cry from the poor lady: "Oh, my vase! It was priceless!" (It was not, but no matter.) About Barbara the air clung so thick with catastrophe that it was from a very long way indeed that she heard Mary's voice: "Barbara didn't mean-----" "Did you do this, Barbara ?" her mother turned round upon her.
"You know, Mary, I've told you a thousand times that you're not to come in here!" this from Mrs.Adams, who was obviously very angry indeed.
Mary was on her feet now and, as she looked across at Barbara, there was in her glance a strange look, ironical, amused, inquisitive, even affectionate.

"Well, mother, I knew we mustn't.