She did it so quickly and well that Miss Ophelia was very pleased.

But, alas! as she was finishing, an end of ribbon came dangling out of her sleeve.
'What is this ?' said Miss Ophelia, seizing it.

'You naughty, wicked child--you have been stealing this.' The ribbon was pulled out of Topsy's own sleeve.

Yet she did not seem a bit ashamed.

She only looked at it with an air of surprise and innocence.
'Why, that's Miss Feely's ribbon, an't it?
How could it a got into my sleeve ?' 'Topsy, you naughty girl, don't tell me a lie.