Betty, who had followed her in as fast as she could, generously took all the blame upon herself.
"Don't scold her, sir," she said; "it was all my doing.

I brought her here without the knowledge of her parents, and dared her to go out there." "You did ?" he exclaimed, turning a severe look upon the young girl (he was a middle-aged man of stern aspect).

"Suppose I had not been near enough to catch her, and she had been precipitated to the ground from that great height--how would you have felt ?" "I could never have forgiven myself or had another happy moment while I lived," Betty said, in half tremulous tones, "I can never thank you enough, sir, for saving her," she added, warmly.
"No, nor I," said the keeper.

"I should always have felt that I was to blame for letting her go out; but you were close behind, sir, and the other gentleman before, and I took you to be all one party, and of course thought you would take care of the little girl." "She has had quite a severe shock," the gentleman remarked, again looking at Lulu, who was very pale and trembling like a leaf.

"You had better wait and let me help you down the stairs.