;the
awful
responsibility
which
lies
in
the
hands
of
adults
,
for
the
joy
or
grief
,
good
or
evil
,
as
the
portion
of
a
child
!
Happily
for
Ellen
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
love
was
as
inexhaustible
as
her
patience
,
or
her
niece
might
have
been
still
more
unhappy
,
for
few
would
have
so
understood
and
practiced
the
delicate
and
difficult
task
of
constantly
being
called
upon
to
correct
,
and
yet
to
love
.
Our
young
readers
must
not
think
Edward
very
cowardly
and
very
dishonorable
,
always
to
let
his
sister
bear
the
penalty
of
his
faults
.
He
had
never
been
taught
,
and
therefore
could
not
understand
,
the
imperative
necessity
,
when
guilty
of
heedlessness
or
disobedience
,
boldly
to
step
forward
,
whether
others
were
injured
or
not
,
and
avow
it
.
He
did
not
understand
how
not
to
say
any
thing
about
it
,
unless
he
was
asked
,
could
be
a
want
of
truth
.
It
was
also
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
constant
custom
never
to
mention
to
the
members
of
her
family
,
who
might
have
been
absent
at
the
time
,
any
thing
of
fault
or
disgrace
which
had
fallen
under
her
own
immediate
jurisdiction
,
unless
their
nature
absolutely
demanded
it
;
and
the
absence
of
the
young
offenders
from
the
happy
family
circle
,
either
at
meals
or
hours
of
recreation
,
when
such
an
unusual
proceeding
was
necessary
,
in
consequence
,
never
excited
any
remark
,
but
a
very
general
feeling
of
regret
.
Edward
,
therefore
,
scarcely
ever
heard
the
actual
cause
of
his
sister
's
disgrace
,
and
sometimes
did
not
even
know
she
had
incurred
it
.
He
did
,
indeed
,
when
she
was
sometimes
absent
,
feel
very
uncomfortable
;
but
his
immovable
awe
of
his
really
indulgent
uncle
(
an
impression
of
his
mother
's
creating
,
quite
as
strong
as
Ellen
's
idea
of
the
sanctity
of
her
promise
)
caused
him
to
adopt
every
means
of
removing
the
uncomfortable
consciousness
that
he
was
far
more
to
blame
than
Ellen
,
but
the
right
one
,
a
fearless
inquiry
as
to
why
she
was
punished
,
and
an
open
avowal
that
it
was
he
who
had
either
led
her
into
error
,
or
was
the
real
offender
.
His
thoughts
on
Percy
's
conduct
were
very
different
to
those
of
his
cousins
.
"
No
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
almost
aloud
,
in
the
energy
of
his
feelings
,
"
no
!
I
would
have
suffered
any
thing
,
every
thing
,
rather
than
have
done
this
—
seek
Mr.
Morton
,
humble
myself
by
avowing
the
truth
to
him
,
and
ask
his
pardon
for
a
mere
clever
joke
,
that
Percy
ought
to
have
been
proud
of
,
instead
of
regretting
!
If
I
did
not
know
him
well
,
I
should
believe
him
a
craven
milk-and-water
lad
,
without
a
particle
of
the
right
spirit
within
him
.
What
could
have
possessed
him
?
—
my
uncle
's
look
must
have
frightened
him
out
of
his
sober
senses
:
to
be
sure
it
was
very
terrible
;
poor
mamma
was
,
indeed
,
right
as
to
his
unbending
sternness
;
but
I
think
I
could
have
dared
even
his
anger
,
rather
than
beg
Mr.
Morton
's
pardon
,
when
there
really
was
no
necessity
.
"
And
sleep
overtook
him
,
with
the
firm
conviction
resting
on
his
mind
,
that
though
in
some
things
Percy
might
be
his
equal
,
yet
in
manliness
and
spirit
,
he
(
Edward
)
was
decidedly
the
superior
.
CHAPTER
IX
.
TEMPTATION
AND
DISOBEDIENCE
.
—
FEAR
.
—
FALSEHOOD
AND
PUNISHMENT
.
It
was
the
Christmas
vacation
—
always
a
happy
season
in
the
halls
of
Oakwood
.
The
previous
year
,
the
general
juvenile
party
with
which
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
indulged
their
children
on
the
first
or
sixth
of
January
,
as
circumstances
permitted
,
had
not
taken
place
on
account
of
Mrs.
Fortescue
's
death
,
and
was
therefore
this
year
anticipated
with
even
more
than
usual
joy
.
Caroline
and
Emmeline
were
never
permitted
to
go
to
indiscriminate
parties
.
Two
or
three
,
really
confined
to
children
,
their
mother
allowed
their
joining
,
with
Miss
Harcourt
,
in
the
course
of
the
year
,
but
their
own
ball
was
always
considered
the
acme
of
enjoyment
,
especially
now
that
Caroline
began
to
fancy
herself
very
much
too
old
for
only
children
's
parties
.
Annie
went
almost
every
where
with
Lady
Helen
,
and
quite
laughed
at
the
idea
of
joining
children
;
and
Caroline
this
year
began
to
wish
most
intensely
that
her
mother
would
take
her
out
to
grown-up
parties
too
,
and
lost
all
relish
for
the
pleasant
parties
she
had
enjoyed
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
never
obliged
her
to
go
out
with
Emmeline
and
Ellen
,
if
she
really
did
not
wish
it
;
but
Caroline
could
not
get
any
farther
in
considering
herself
a
woman
.
The
week
before
Christmas
,
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
did
not
allow
to
be
all
holiday
and
amusement
.
The
season
was
to
their
feelings
of
religion
one
of
earnest
,
intense
thankfulness
,
and
they
wished
to
make
it
equally
so
to
their
children
—
a
source
of
joy
and
hope
indeed
,
but
the
joy
and
hope
of
Heaven
,
not
the
mere
amusements
and
pleasures
of
earth
.
They
had
thought
long
and
tried
earnestly
to
make
their
children
so
to
love
serious
things
,
as
never
to
associate
them
with
gloom
or
sadness
—
never
to
fancy
that
to
be
truly
and
spiritually
religious
demanded
a
relinquishment
of
the
joys
and
pleasures
and
innocent
happiness
of
their
age
,
and
admirably
had
they
succeeded
.
Christmas
week
was
always
anticipated
with
quiet
gladness
,
for
they
were
still
more
with
their
father
and
mother
;
and
the
few
serious
readings
and
lessons
they
had
,
were
from
and
with
them
alone
;
Miss
Harcourt
's
time
was
then
entirely
her
own
.
As
soon
as
Christmas-day
was
passed
,
the
young
party
,
with
the
sole
exception
of
two
hours
'
work
by
themselves
,
in
the
morning
or
some
part
of
the
day
if
the
mornings
were
wanted
—
(
for
Mrs.
Hamilton
never
permitted
all
duty
to
be
suspended
,
believing
—
and
her
children
had
experienced
the
wisdom
of
the
belief
—
that
pleasure
and
recreation
were
infinitely
more
enjoyable
after
the
performance
of
some
duty
,
however
brief
and
easy
,
than
had
they
nothing
to
do
but
to
amuse
themselves
all
day
)
—
were
allowed
to
be
just
as
free
,
happy
,
and
noisy
as
they
pleased
;
and
the
exuberance
of
their
innocent
happiness
would
have
been
envied
by
many
,
who
might
have
thought
the
quiet
routine
of
their
usual
life
irksome
indeed
.
Edward
Fortescue
was
looking
forward
with
the
greatest
delight
to
becoming
a
midshipman
in
the
course
of
the
following
year
.
He
hoped
,
indeed
,
it
would
be
in
a
very
few
months
;
but
his
uncle
and
Mr.
Howard
had
only
told
him
to
work
on
as
hard
as
he
could
,
for
the
summons
might
come
for
him
to
join
at
a
very
short
notice
,
and
it
would
be
very
dreadful
,
if
the
commission
should
be
refused
because
his
guardians
did
not
think
him
forward
enough
in
his
various
studies
to
leave
them
.
They
had
looked
very
mischievous
when
they
had
told
him
this
,
and
Edward
had
enjoyed
the
joke
,
and
resolved
they
should
not
have
any
such
amusement
.
He
would
go
to
sea
,
if
he
worked
night
and
day
for
the
privilege
;
and
he
really
did
so
well
,
that
his
uncle
gave
him
great
praise
,
which
was
as
unexpected
and
delightful
as
his
anger
was
terrible
.
It
happened
that
on
the
morning
after
Christmas-day
,
Edward
and
Ellen
were
quite
alone
in
the
school
room
;
the
former
was
in
one
of
his
most
impatient
moods
,
for
at
his
own
request
,
his
uncle
was
to
examine
him
in
a
favorite
study
,
and
one
of
the
necessary
books
was
wanting
.
He
had
read
it
a
few
evenings
previous
,
but
something
had
crossed
him
,
and
in
a
desperate
passion
he
had
flung
the
book
from
him
,
and
where
it
fell
he
neither
knew
nor
cared
.
Caroline
and
Emmeline
had
already
gone
on
an
expedition
to
some
poor
people
,
with
their
mother
;
Ellen
had
asked
and
received
permission
to
put
some
seeds
in
her
little
garden
,
Percy
having
kindly
promised
to
show
her
where
,
and
to
do
some
harder
work
in
it
for
her
.
He
was
,
however
,
still
engaged
with
his
father
,
and
would
be
,
he
had
told
her
,
for
perhaps
an
hour
longer
,
but
he
would
be
sure
to
come
to
her
then
;
and
,
to
employ
the
interval
,
she
had
intended
to
work
hard
at
a
purse
she
was
making
for
him
.
Edward
,
however
,
entirely
engrossed
her
,
and
for
nearly
half
an
hour
they
hunted
in
every
nook
and
corner
of
the
room
,
at
length
—
"
I
see
it
!
I
see
it
!
Edward
,
"
Ellen
exclaimed
,
adding
,
however
,
in
a
very
desponding
tone
,
"
but
what
shall
we
do
?
we
can
not
get
it
.
"
"
Why
not
?
"
answered
Edward
,
impatiently
;
"
where
is
it
,
Ellen
?
"
"
Behind
that
stand
of
flowers
,
"
she
replied
,
pointing
to
one
that
filled
a
corner
of
the
room
and
which
,
though
it
was
winter
,
was
filled
with
some
beautiful
flowering
geraniums
of
all
colors
,
and
some
few
rare
myrtles
in
full
flower
.
"
There
!
"
said
Edward
joyfully
;
"
Oh
,
that
is
very
easily
moved
—
I
shall
get
it
in
a
minute
.
"
"
But
you
know
aunt
Emmeline
desired
us
not
to
touch
it
,
"
implored
Ellen
,
clinging
to
his
arm
;
"
and
the
flowers
are
almost
all
Caroline
's
.
Dear
Edward
—
pray
do
not
move
it
.
"
"
Stuff
and
nonsense
,
Ellen
!
How
is
aunt
to
know
any
thing
about
it
?
and
what
do
I
care
about
the
flowers
being
Caroline
's
;
they
may
be
whose
they
like
,
but
they
shall
not
prevent
my
getting
my
book
.
"
"
But
it
will
be
disobeying
aunt
.
Edward
—
pray
,
pray
,
do
n't
;
you
know
how
displeased
she
was
with
Emmeline
last
week
for
a
much
more
trifling
disobedience
than
this
will
be
.
And
if
any
thing
should
happen
to
the
flowers
,
Caroline
will
be
so
angry
.
"
"
And
what
do
I
care
for
Caroline
's
anger
,
"
retorted
Edward
impatiently
;
"
My
uncle
's
indeed
is
something
to
care
about
,
and
if
I
do
n't
get
my
book
and
go
to
him
directly
,
I
shall
have
it
.
I
do
n't
like
to
disobey
aunt
,
but
in
this
case
there
is
no
help
for
it
.
I
am
sure
I
can
reach
it
without
doing
any
harm
;
besides
,
I
must
get
my
book
—
I
can
not
do
without
it
.
"
"
Then
only
wait
till
aunt
comes
home
,
or
at
least
let
me
ask
uncle
if
we
may
move
it
,
dear
Edward
;
do
let
me
go
—
I
will
not
be
a
minute
.
"
"
And
so
betray
my
being
in
a
passion
the
other
day
,
and
get
me
a
reproof
for
that
,
and
for
my
carelessness
into
the
bargain
!
Nonsense
,
Ellen
;
I
will
get
it
,
and
,
you
must
help
me
,
for
I
have
not
a
moment
to
lose
.
"
"
No
,
Edward
!
indeed
,
indeed
,
I
can
not
touch
it
,
"
she
replied
imploringly
,
and
shrinking
back
.
"
Say
,
rather
,
you
wish
to
get
me
into
disgrace
,
and
perhaps
prevented
from
going
out
this
evening
,
and
to-morrow
,
and
Friday
too
!
"
exclaimed
Edward
,
irritated
beyond
all
forbearance
;
"
and
the
other
day
you
were
so
very
sorry
I
was
going
from
home
so
soon
—
much
you
must
care
about
me
,
that
you
can
not
do
such
a
trifling
thing
as
this
to
oblige
me
!
I
hate
deceit
.
"
Ellen
made
no
reply
,
though
the
tears
started
to
her
eyes
;
but
as
usual
her
firmness
deserted
her
.
The
heavy
stand
was
carefully
moved
a
little
forward
,
without
injuring
any
of
the
plants
;
the
book
was
obtained
,
and
at
that
moment
the
voice
of
Percy
was
heard
exclaiming
—
"
Edward
!
Edward
!
what
are
you
about
?
papa
has
been
expecting
you
the
last
half-hour
;
he
says
if
you
do
not
come
directly
,
you
will
not
have
time
to
do
all
you
wish
—
what
can
you
be
about
?
"
Edward
did
not
wait
to
hear
much
more
than
his
name
,
but
darted
off
,
leaving
his
sister
to
push
back
the
stand
.
Ellen
felt
almost
sure
she
could
not
do
it
by
herself
;
but
how
was
she
to
act
?
To
ask
assistance
would
not
only
be
confessing
her
own
disobedience
,
but
inculpating
her
brother
,
and
really
,
perhaps
,
deprive
him
of
the
enjoyments
he
anticipated
,
and
so
confirm
his
unkind
words
.
She
tried
to
replace
it
,
and
thought
she
had
quite
succeeded
;
but
as
she
moved
it
,
one
of
the
myrtles
fell
to
the
ground
,
and
its
beautiful
blossom
hung
on
the
stalk
,
preserved
from
being
quite
broken
off
only
by
three
or
four
delicate
fibers
.
It
was
Caroline
's
favorite
plant
;
one
she
so
cherished
and
tended
,
that
Percy
called
it
her
petted
child
;
and
poor
Ellen
stood
paralyzed
;
she
raised
the
pot
mechanically
,
and
rested
the
broken
head
of
the
flower
against
the
still
uninjured
sprig
,
and
it
looked
so
well
and
natural
,
that
the
thought
for
a
moment
darted
across
her
mind
that
after
all
it
might
not
be
discovered
.
Then
came
all
her
aunt
's
lessons
of
the
many
ways
of
acting
an
untruth
without
words
,
and
,
therefore
,
even
if
it
should
not
be
discovered
,
it
was
no
comfort
;
but
could
she
,
dared
she
,
voluntarily
confess
what
must
appear
a
willful
disobedience
?
If
her
aunt
had
been
at
home
,
she
might
in
that
first
moment
have
gained
the
necessary
courage
;
but
she
was
not
expected
back
for
two
or
three
hours
,
and
Ellen
sat
with
her
face
buried
in
her
hands
,
only
conscious
of
misery
,
till
her
cousin
's
joyous
voice
called
out
from
the
hall
—
"
Come
along
,
Nelly
,
I
have
kept
you
long
enough
;
Tiny
would
never
have
left
me
quiet
so
long
;
but
there
is
no
tiring
your
patience
.
However
,
I
will
make
up
for
it
now
.
"
And
glad
to
escape
from
her
own
thoughts
,
she
hastily
collected
the
various
seeds
,
and
ran
after
him
.
And
Percy
was
so
active
,
so
obliging
,
so
amusing
in
his
queer
ways
of
working
and
talking
,
that
she
almost
forgot
the
impending
trial
,
till
she
met
her
aunt
and
cousins
at
luncheon
.
Edward
had
been
so
intent
,
so
happy
at
his
business
with
his
uncle
,
that
he
had
never
cast
a
thought
as
to
how
the
stand
got
back
;
and
after
lunch
he
had
to
go
for
a
row
on
the
river
,
and
after
dinner
to
attend
a
lecture
on
astronomy
,
which
,
that
night
and
the
one
following
,
was
to
be
given
in
the
town-hall
in
T
—
.
His
uncle
and
Percy
and
Herbert
were
to
accompany
him
,
and
so
,
that
he
should
give
a
thought
to
any
thing
disagreeable
,
was
not
likely
.
The
day
wore
on
;
Ellen
's
little
courage
had
all
gone
,
and
she
almost
unconsciously
hoped
that
nothing
would
be
discovered
.
Mr.
Hamilton
and
the
lads
departed
at
six
,
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
proposed
adjourning
to
her
daughters
'
room
,
to
finish
an
entertaining
book
that
they
were
reading
aloud
.
She
had
noticed
,
with
her
usual
penetration
,
that
all
day
Ellen
evidently
shrunk
from
her
eye
,
and
felt
quite
sure
something
was
wrong
again
;
but
she
asked
no
questions
,
fearing
again
to
tempt
equivocation
.
Caroline
's
passionate
exclamation
that
somebody
had
broken
her
beautiful
flower
,
drew
the
attention
of
all
to
the
stand
,
and
one
glance
sufficed
to
tell
Mrs.
Hamilton
that
it
had
been
moved
.
Her
anxious
suspicions
at
once
connected
this
with
Ellen
's
shrinking
manner
,
and
she
turned
to
ask
her
if
she
knew
any
thing
about
it
.
But
Ellen
had
disappeared
;
and
she
rang
the
bell
,
and
inquired
of
the
only
domestics
whose
department
ever
led
them
into
the
room
,
if
they
could
explain
the
accident
.
But
neither
of
them
could
;
all
uniting
in
declaring
,
that
in
the
morning
the
myrtle
was
quite
perfect
.
"
Ellen
was
at
home
,
mamma
;
she
must
know
something
about
it
.
Percy
said
they
did
not
begin
gardening
till
more
than
an
hour
after
we
were
gone
,
"
exclaimed
Caroline
,
whose
temper
was
sorely
tried
by
this
downfall
of
all
her
cares
.
"
I
dare
say
she
did
it
herself
—
spiteful
thing
!
—
and
has
gone
to
hide
herself
rather
than
confess
it
—
it
is
just
like
her
!
"
"
Stop
,
Caroline
,
do
not
condemn
till
you
are
quite
certain
;
and
do
not
in
your
anger
say
what
is
not
true
.
Ellen
has
given
no
evidence
as
yet
of
being
spiteful
or
mischievous
.
Emmeline
,
go
and
tell
your
cousin
that
I
want
her
.
"
The
child
obeyed
.
Miss
Harcourt
had
continued
working
most
industriously
at
the
table
,
without
uttering
a
word
,
though
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
countenance
expressed
such
unusual
perplexity
and
pain
,
that
it
would
have
seemed
kinder
to
have
spoken
.
One
look
at
Ellen
convinced
her
aunt
,
and
she
actually
paused
before
she
spoke
,
dreading
the
reply
almost
as
much
as
the
child
did
the
question
.
It
was
scarcely
audible
;
it
might
have
been
denial
,
it
certainly
was
not
affirmative
,
for
Miss
Harcourt
instantly
exclaimed
—
"
Ellen
,
how
can
you
tell
such
a
deliberate
falsehood
?
I
would
not
tell
your
aunt
,
for
I
really
wished
you
to
have
the
opportunity
of
in
some
degree
redeeming
your
disobedience
;
but
I
saw
you
move
back
the
stand
,
and
your
sinful
attempt
at
concealment
by
replacing
the
broken
flower
—
and
now
you
dare
deny
it
?
"
"
I
did
not
replace
the
flower
with
the
intention
of
concealing
it
,
"
exclaimed
Ellen
,
bursting
into
tears
;
for
that
one
unjust
charge
seemed
to
give
back
the
power
of
speech
,
though
the
violent
reproach
and
invective
which
burst
from
Caroline
prevented
any
thing
further
.
"
I
must
beg
you
to
be
silent
,
Caroline
,
or
to
leave
the
room
,
till
I
have
done
speaking
to
your
cousin
,
"
said
her
mother
,
quietly
;
"
the
fate
of
your
flower
seems
to
make
you
forget
that
I
have
never
yet
permitted
disrespect
or
any
display
of
temper
in
my
presence
.
"
"
But
what
right
had
Ellen
to
touch
the
stand
?
"
"
None
—
she
has
both
disobeyed
and
again
tried
to
deceive
me
;
faults
which
it
is
my
duty
to
chastise
,
but
not
yours
to
upbraid
.
Answer
me
,
Ellen
,
at
once
and
briefly
;
your
fault
is
known
,
and
,
therefore
,
all
further
equivocation
is
useless
.
Did
you
move
that
flower-stand
?
"
"
Yes
,
"
replied
the
child
,
almost
choked
with
sobs
,
called
forth
the
more
from
the
contrast
which
her
aunt
's
mildness
presented
to
Miss
Harcourt
's
harshness
,
and
Caroline
's
violent
anger
,
and
from
the
painful
longing
to
say
that
her
first
disobedience
was
not
entirely
her
own
fault
.
"
Did
you
remember
that
I
had
expressly
forbidden
either
of
you
to
attempt
to
move
it
?
"
"
Yes
,
"
replied
Ellen
again
,
and
an
exclamation
at
the
apparent
hardihood
of
her
conduct
escaped
from
both
Miss
Harcourt
and
Caroline
.
"
And
yet
you
persisted
,
Ellen
:
this
is
indeed
a
strange
contradiction
to
your
seemingly
sincere
sorrow
for
a
similar
fault
a
few
months
back
.
What
did
you
move
it
for
?
"
For
full
a
minute
Ellen
hesitated
,
thus
unhappily
confirming
the
suspicion
that
when
she
did
reply
it
was
another
equivocation
.
"
To
get
a
book
which
had
fallen
behind
.
"
"
I
do
not
know
how
a
book
could
have
fallen
behind
,
unless
it
had
been
put
or
thrown
there
,
Ellen
;
you
said
,
too
,
that
you
did
not
replace
the
broken
flower
for
the
purpose
of
concealment
.
I
hardly
know
how
to
believe
either
of
these
assertions
.
Why
did
you
leave
the
room
just
now
?
"
"
Because
—
because
—
I
knew
you
would
question
me
,
and
—
and
—
I
felt
I
should
not
have
courage
to
speak
the
truth
—
and
I
knew
—
you
would
be
so
—
so
displeased
.
"
The
words
were
scarcely
articulate
.
"
I
should
have
been
better
satisfied
,
Ellen
,
if
your
fear
of
my
displeasure
had
prevented
the
committal
of
your
first
fault
,
not
to
aggravate
it
so
sinfully
by
both
acted
and
spoken
untruths
.
Painful
as
it
is
to
me
in
this
season
of
festivity
and
enjoyment
to
inflict
suffering
,
I
should
share
your
sin
if
I
did
not
adopt
some
measures
to
endeavor
at
least
to
make
you
remember
and
so
avoid
it
in
future
.
I
have
told
you
so
very
often
that
it
is
not
me
you
mostly
offend
when
you
speak
or
act
falsely
but
God
himself
—
who
is
Truth
—
that
I
fear
words
alone
will
be
of
no
avail
.
Go
to
your
own
room
,
Ellen
;
perhaps
solitude
and
thought
,
when
your
brother
and
cousins
are
so
happy
and
unrestrained
,
may
bring
you
to
a
sense
of
your
aggravated
misconduct
better
than
any
thing
else
.
You
will
not
leave
your
apartment
,
except
for
the
hours
of
devotion
and
exercise
—
which
you
will
take
with
Ellis
,
not
with
me
—
till
I
think
you
have
had
sufficient
time
to
reflect
on
all
I
have
said
to
you
on
this
subject
.
"
Ellen
quitted
the
room
without
answering
;
but
it
was
several
minutes
before
Mrs.
Hamilton
could
sufficiently
conquer
the
very
painful
feelings
which
her
niece
's
conduct
and
her
own
compelled
severity
excited
,
to
enter
into
her
daughters
'
amusements
;
but
she
would
not
punish
them
for
the
misconduct
of
another
;
and
,
by
her
exertions
,
temper
to
Caroline
and
cheerfulness
to
Emmeline
(
whose
tears
of
sympathy
had
almost
kept
pace
with
Ellen
's
of
sorrow
)
,
gradually
returned
,
and
their
book
became
as
delightful
a
recreation
as
it
had
been
before
.
Great
was
Edward
's
grief
and
consternation
when
he
found
the
effects
of
what
was
actually
in
the
first
instance
his
fault
;
but
he
had
not
sufficient
boldness
to
say
so
.
His
aunt
had
expressly
said
it
was
the
untruth
that
had
occasioned
her
greatest
displeasure
,
that
if
the
disobedience
had
been
confessed
at
once
,
she
would
,
in
consideration
of
the
season
,
have
forgiven
it
with
a
very
slight
rebuke
.
"
Now
,
"
he
thought
,
"
it
is
only
the
disobedience
in
which
I
am
concerned
,
and
if
I
confess
it
was
mostly
my
fault
,
it
wo
n't
help
Ellen
in
the
least
—
so
what
is
the
use
of
my
acknowledging
it
?
Of
course
,
if
she
wishes
it
,
I
will
;
but
how
could
she
tell
such
a
deliberate
story
?
"
That
he
was
acting
one
of
equal
deliberation
,
and
of
far
more
culpability
,
if
possible
—
for
he
was
permitting
her
to
bear
the
whole
weight
of
his
fault
—
never
struck
him
;
if
it
did
,
he
did
not
at
all
understand
or
believe
it
.
He
went
to
his
sister
,
and
offered
to
confess
his
share
in
her
fault
,
and
when
—
as
he
fully
expected
—
she
begged
him
not
,
that
it
could
do
her
no
good
,
and
perhaps
only
get
him
punished
too
,
his
conscience
was
so
perfectly
satisfied
,
that
he
actually
took
upon
himself
to
ask
her
how
she
could
be
so
foolish
and
wrong
as
,
when
she
was
asked
,
not
to
allow
that
she
had
moved
it
at
once
—
"
It
would
have
been
all
right
,
then
,
"
he
said
;
and
added
,
almost
with
irritation
,
"
and
I
should
not
have
been
teased
with
the
thought
of
your
being
in
disgrace
just
now
,
when
I
wanted
so
much
to
enjoy
myself
.
"
"
Do
not
think
about
me
,
then
,
Edward
,
"
was
his
sister
's
reply
;
"
I
know
the
untruth
is
entirely
my
own
fault
,
so
why
should
it
torment
you
;
if
I
could
but
always
tell
and
act
the
truth
,
and
not
be
so
very
,
very
frightened
—
oh
,
how
I
wonder
if
I
ever
shall
!
"
and
she
leaned
her
head
on
her
arms
,
which
rested
on
the
table
,
so
despondingly
,
so
sorrowfully
,
that
Edward
felt
too
uncomfortable
to
remain
with
her
.
He
was
satisfied
that
he
could
not
help
her
;
but
the
disagreeable
thought
would
come
,
that
if
he
had
not
tempted
her
to
disobey
,
she
would
have
had
no
temptation
to
tell
an
untruth
,
and
so
he
sought
a
variety
of
active
amusements
to
get
rid
of
the
feeling
.
The
continuation
of
the
entertaining
astronomical
lecture
,
too
,
was
so
very
delightful
,
and
Thursday
and
Friday
morning
brought
so
many
enjoyments
,
that
he
almost
forgot
her
,
till
startled
back
into
self-reproach
by
finding
that
she
was
not
to
accompany
them
on
Friday
evening
to
Mr.
Howard
's
,
whose
great
pleasure
was
to
collect
young
people
around
him
,
and
whose
soirée
in
the
Christmas
holidays
,
and
whose
day
in
the
country
at
midsummer
,
were
anticipated
by
girls
and
boys
,
great
and
small
,
with
such
delight
as
to
pervade
the
whole
year
round
.
Caroline
never
refused
to
join
Mr.
Howard
's
parties
though
they
were
"
juvenile
;
"
and
Percy
always
declared
they
were
as
unlike
any
other
person
's
as
Mr.
Howard
was
unlike
a
schoolmaster
.
Ellen
had
so
enjoyed
the
day
in
the
country
,
that
,
timid
as
she
was
,
she
had
looked
forward
to
Friday
with
almost
as
much
delight
as
Emmeline
.
In
vain
Emmeline
,
Edward
,
Percy
,
Herbert
,
and
even
Mr.
Hamilton
entreated
,
that
she
might
be
permitted
to
go
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
own
kind
heart
pleaded
quite
as
strongly
,
but
she
remained
firm
.
"
Do
not
ask
me
,
my
dear
children
,
"
she
said
,
almost
as
beseechingly
as
they
had
implored
;
"
I
do
assure
you
it
is
quite
as
much
,
if
not
more
pain
to
me
on
this
occasion
to
refuse
,
as
it
is
for
you
all
to
be
refused
.
If
it
were
the
first
,
second
,
or
even
third
time
that
Ellen
had
disregarded
truth
,
I
would
yield
for
your
sakes
;
and
in
the
hope
that
the
indulgence
would
produce
as
good
an
effect
as
continued
severity
;
but
I
can
not
hope
this
now
.
The
habit
,
is
,
I
fear
,
so
deeply
rooted
,
that
nothing
but
firmness
in
inflicting
pain
,
whenever
it
is
committed
,
will
succeed
in
eradicating
it
.
God
grant
I
may
remove
it
at
last
.
"
The
tone
and
words
were
so
earnest
,
so
sad
,
that
not
only
did
her
children
cease
in
their
intercession
,
but
all
felt
still
more
forcibly
the
solemn
importance
of
the
virtue
,
in
which
Ellen
had
so
failed
,
from
the
effect
of
her
conduct
upon
their
mother
.
She
was
always
grieved
when
they
had
done
wrong
,
but
they
never
remembered
seeing
her
so
very
sad
as
now
.
Edward
,
indeed
,
could
scarcely
understand
this
as
his
cousins
did
;
but
as
his
aunt
still
only
alluded
to
the
untruth
,
the
qualm
of
conscience
was
again
silenced
,
for
he
had
only
caused
the
disobedience
.
Emmeline
asked
timidly
if
she
might
remain
with
Ellen
,
and
Edward
followed
her
example
,
thinking
himself
very
magnanimous
in
so
doing
;
but
both
were
refused
—
and
surely
he
had
done
enough
!
All
went
—
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
and
Miss
Harcourt
,
as
well
as
the
young
people
;
and
it
was
such
a
happy
evening
!
First
,
there
was
the
orrery
,
that
Mr.
Howard
had
prevailed
on
the
lecturer
to
display
first
at
his
house
,
and
Edward
was
almost
wild
in
his
delight
;
and
then
there
were
some
games
and
intellectual
puzzles
,
that
made
them
all
think
,
as
well
as
enjoy
;
and
then
there
were
some
music
and
singing
and
dancing
,
and
every
thing
was
so
quiet
and
orderly
,
and
yet
so
full
of
youthful
enjoyment
,
that
it
was
not
much
wonder
there
was
no
longer
any
room
for
a
sorrowful
thought
,
in
any
of
the
young
party
from
Oakwood
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
alone
thought
of
Ellen
,
and
again
and
again
accused
herself
of
too
great
harshness
;
for
,
perhaps
,
after
all
,
it
might
have
no
better
effect
than
kindness
;
but
what
could
she
do
?
She
almost
envied
the
quiet
,
unruffled
unconcern
of
less
anxious
guardians
;
but
for
her
to
feel
indifferent
to
her
responsibility
was
impossible
.
Ellen
was
so
often
unwell
that
her
absence
did
not
occasion
so
much
remark
as
her
brother
's
or
either
of
her
cousins
'
would
.
"
Mamma
did
not
wish
her
to
come
,
"
was
the
answer
she
had
desired
the
children
to
give
to
any
inquiries
,
and
her
character
for
indulgence
was
so
generally
known
,
that
no
one
suspected
any
thing
more
than
indisposition
.
Annie
Grahame
's
dislike
to
Ellen
might
have
made
her
more
suspicious
,
but
she
was
not
there
.
Cecil
and
Lilla
were
,
with
their
father
,
but
Miss
Grahame
did
not
condescend
to
attend
Mr.
Howard
's
"
juvenile
"
parties
;
and
Caroline
,
though
she
would
not
have
allowed
it
,
even
to
herself
,
was
both
happier
,
and
much
more
inclined
to
enjoy
herself
,
with
the
amusements
and
society
offered
to
her
when
Annie
was
not
at
a
party
,
than
when
she
was
.
The
next
night
,
to
Ellen
's
disposition
,
was
a
greater
trial
than
the
Friday
.
She
neither
expected
,
nor
hardly
wished
to
be
allowed
to
go
to
Mr.
Howard
's
,
though
,
as
the
affectionate
Emmeline
had
come
to
wish
her
good
night
,
and
with
tears
in
her
eyes
repeated
the
regrets
that
she
was
not
to
go
,
she
felt
the
bitter
disappointment
more
than
in
the
morning
she
had
thought
possible
;
but
Saturday
night
it
had
been
her
aunt
's
custom
,
from
the
time
she
had
been
at
Oakwood
,
to
visit
her
daughters
and
niece
before
they
went
to
sleep
,
and
prepare
them
for
the
Sabbath
's
rest
and
enjoyment
,
by
an
examination
of
their
conduct
during
the
past
week
,
and
full
forgiveness
of
any
thing
that
had
been
wrong
.
When
younger
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
attended
to
this
duty
every
night
;
but
wishing
to
give
them
a
habit
of
private
prayer
and
self-examination
,
independent
of
her
,
she
had
,
after
Emmeline
was
twelve
years
old
,
set
apart
the
Saturday
night
,
until
they
were
fifteen
—
old
enough
for
her
to
relinquish
it
altogether
.
It
had
been
such
a
habit
with
her
own
children
,
that
they
felt
it
perfectly
natural
;
but
with
Ellen
and
Edward
,
from
their
never
having
been
accustomed
to
it
as
young
children
,
she
had
never
felt
the
duty
understood
by
them
,
or
as
satisfactorily
performed
by
herself
as
with
her
own
.
Still
,
Ellen
looked
forward
to
this
night
as
the
termination
of
her
banishment
;
for
great
indeed
was
the
offense
whose
correction
extended
over
the
Sabbath
.
Ellen
could
not
remember
one
instance
since
she
had
been
at
Oakwood
,
and
when
she
heard
the
doors
of
her
cousins
'
rooms
successively
close
,
and
her
aunt
's
step
retreating
without
approaching
hers
,
she
did
,
indeed
,
believe
herself
irreclaimably
wicked
,
or
her
kind
,
good
aunt
,
would
,
at
least
,
have
come
to
her
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
purposely
refrained
from
indulging
her
own
inclinations
,
as
well
as
comforting
Ellen
,
hoping
still
more
to
impress
upon
her
how
greatly
she
had
sinned
.
The
impossibility
of
her
perfectly
comprehending
her
niece
's
character
,
while
the
poor
child
felt
it
such
a
sacred
duty
to
victimize
herself
,
made
her
far
more
severe
than
she
would
have
been
,
could
she
have
known
her
real
disposition
;
but
how
was
it
possible
she
could
believe
Ellen
's
grief
as
deep
and
remorseful
as
it
seemed
,
when
a
short
time
afterward
she
would
commit
the
same
faults
?
Her
task
was
infinitely
more
difficult
and
perplexing
than
less
anxious
mothers
can
have
the
least
idea
of
.
CHAPTER
X
.
PAIN
AND
PENITENCE
.
—
TRUTH
IMPRESSED
,
AND
RECONCILIATION
.
—
THE
FAMILY
TREE
.
In
feverish
dreams
of
her
parents
,
recalling
both
their
deaths
,
and
with
alternate
wakefulness
,
fraught
with
those
deadly
incomprehensible
terrors
which
some
poor
children
of
strong
imagination
know
so
well
,
Ellen
's
night
passed
;
and
the
next
morning
she
rose
,
with
that
painful
throbbing
in
her
throat
and
temples
,
which
always
ended
with
one
of
those
intense
and
exhausting
headaches
to
which
which
she
had
been
so
subject
,
but
which
her
aunt
's
care
and
Mr.
Maitland
's
remedies
had
much
decreased
,
both
in
frequency
and
violence
.
She
went
to
church
,
however
with
the
family
,
as
usual
.
"
Remain
out
,
Edward
!
"
Percy
exclaimed
,
as
they
neared
the
house
;
"
the
old
year
is
taking
leave
of
us
in
such
a
glorious
mood
,
that
Tiny
and
I
are
going
to
ruralize
and
poetize
till
dinner
—
will
you
come
with
us
?
—
and
you
,
Ellen
?
"
Ellen
withdrew
her
arm
from
her
brother
's
,
saying
,
as
she
did
so
—
"
Go
,
dear
Edward
,
I
am
very
tired
,
and
would
rather
not
.
"
"
Tired
,
and
with
this
short
walk
;
and
you
really
do
look
as
if
you
were
—
what
is
the
matter
,
Ellen
?
you
are
not
well
.
"
His
sister
did
not
reply
,
but
shrinking
from
the
look
which
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
who
was
passing
at
the
moment
,
fixed
earnestly
upon
her
,
she
ran
into
the
house
.
Edward
again
felt
uncomfortable
;
in
fact
,
he
had
done
so
,
so
often
since
the
Tuesday
morning
,
that
his
temper
was
not
half
so
good
as
usual
.
He
did
not
choose
to
acknowledge
,
even
to
himself
,
that
the
uncomfortable
feeling
was
self-reproach
,
and
so
he
vented
it
more
than
once
in
irritation
against
Ellen
,
declaring
it
was
so
disagreeable
she
should
be
in
disgrace
just
then
.
It
was
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
custom
always
to
dine
on
Sundays
at
half-past
one
,
to
allow
those
of
their
household
who
were
unable
to
attend
divine
service
in
the
morning
to
go
in
the
afternoon
.
With
regard
to
themselves
and
their
children
they
pursued
a
plan
,
which
many
rigid
religionists
might
,
perhaps
,
have
condemned
,
and
yet
its
fruits
were
very
promising
.
Their
great
wish
was
to
make
the
Sabbath
a
day
of
love
,
divine
and
domestic
;
to
make
their
children
look
to
it
with
joy
and
anticipation
throughout
the
week
as
a
day
quite
distinct
in
its
enjoyment
from
any
other
;
and
for
this
reason
,
while
their
children
were
young
,
they
only
went
to
church
in
the
morning
,
the
afternoons
were
devoted
to
teaching
them
to
know
and
to
love
God
in
His
works
as
well
as
word
,
and
their
evenings
to
such
quiet
but
happy
amusements
and
literature
,
as
would
fill
their
young
hearts
with
increased
thankfulness
for
their
very
happy
lot
.
As
they
grew
older
,
they
were
perfectly
at
liberty
to
do
as
they
pleased
with
regard
to
the
afternoon
church
.
Herbert
,
whose
ardent
desire
to
enter
the
ministry
increased
with
his
years
,
generally
spent
the
greater
part
of
Sunday
with
Mr.
Howard
,
with
his
parents
'
glad
and
full
consent
.
The
contemplation
of
serious
things
was
his
greatest
happiness
,
but
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
did
not
expect
that
all
their
other
children
were
to
be
like
him
.
They
were
contented
,
and
intensely
thankful
also
,
to
perceive
that
diverse
as
were
their
characters
,
still
the
constant
sense
of
God
's
presence
and
of
His
infinite
love
was
active
and
earnest
in
them
all
,
inciting
love
and
reverence
for
Herbert
,
even
though
they
could
not
sympathize
with
him
entirely
.
Another
peculiarity
of
Mr.
Hamilton
consisted
in
his
permitting
no
Sunday
schools
at
Aveling
and
his
other
villages
.
The
Saturday
afternoons
were
set
apart
instead
of
the
Sunday
.
He
wished
his
wife
,
and
daughters
when
they
were
old
enough
,
to
superintend
them
,
and
help
the
children
in
preparing
for
the
Sunday
services
and
Sunday
enjoyments
;
but
he
particularly
disliked
the
system
of
overwork
on
a
day
of
rest
,
which
could
not
fail
to
be
the
case
,
if
there
were
schools
to
attend
to
twice
or
three
times
a
day
,
as
well
as
church
.
It
being
the
last
day
of
the
old
year
,
Mr.
Howard
had
expressed
a
wish
that
Percy
and
Edward
as
well
as
Herbert
should
attend
church
that
afternoon
,
and
the
lads
,
without
the
least
reluctance
,
consented
;
Mr.
Hamilton
and
Miss
Harcourt
were
going
too
,
and
Caroline
and
Emmeline
,
of
their
own
accord
,
asked
permission
to
accompany
them
.
Ellen
's
pale
,
suffering
face
had
so
haunted
her
aunt
,
that
she
could
not
think
of
any
thing
else
,
and
remained
for
a
very
much
longer
time
than
was
usual
to
her
character
in
a
state
of
indecision
.
The
next
night
was
her
children
's
ball
,
and
it
was
too
,
the
first
day
of
the
new
year
—
always
in
her
happy
circle
a
festival
of
joy
and
thankfulness
.
Ellen
's
face
certainly
looked
as
if
she
had
suffered
quite
enough
to
prevent
the
recurrence
of
her
fault
,
but
so
it
had
always
done
,
and
yet
,
before
she
could
possibly
have
forgotten
its
consequences
,
she
failed
again
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
sat
for
some
time
,
after
her
children
had
left
her
,
in
meditation
,
trying
to
silence
the
pleadings
of
affection
,
and
listen
only
to
reason
,
as
to
whether
continued
severity
or
returning
kindness
would
be
the
more
effective
,
and
save
both
Ellen
and
herself
any
further
pain
.
To
the
child
herself
physical
suffering
was
so
increasing
as
gradually
to
deaden
mental
,
till
at
last
it
became
so
severe
,
that
she
felt
sick
and
faint
.
She
knew
the
medicine
she
was
in
the
habit
of
taking
when
similarly
suffering
,
and
the
lotion
which
her
aunt
applied
to
her
forehead
,
and
which
always
succeeded
in
removing
the
excessive
throbbing
,
were
both
in
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
dressing-room
;
but
it
seemed
quite
impossible
that
she
could
get
at
them
,
for
she
did
not
like
to
leave
her
room
without
permission
,
nor
did
she
feel
as
if
she
could
walk
so
far
,
her
head
throbbing
with
increased
violence
with
every
step
she
took
.
At
length
she
summoned
sufficient
courage
to
ring
the
bell
,
and
beg
Fanny
to
ask
Ellis
to
come
to
her
.
The
girl
,
who
had
been
already
dreadfully
concerned
that
Miss
Ellen
had
eaten
no
dinner
,
and
on
Sunday
too
!
gave
such
an
account
of
her
,
that
the
housekeeper
hastened
to
her
directly
,
and
begged
her
to
let
her
go
for
her
mistress
—
it
was
so
lucky
she
had
not
gone
to
church
—
but
Ellen
clung
to
her
,
imploring
her
not
.
"
Dear
,
dear
Ellis
,
get
me
the
medicine
,
and
bathe
my
forehead
yourself
;
I
shall
get
well
then
in
an
hour
or
two
,
without
giving
my
aunt
any
trouble
;
pray
,
pray
,
do
n't
tell
her
.
I
scarcely
feel
the
pain
when
she
is
nursing
and
soothing
me
;
but
I
do
not
deserve
that
now
,
and
I
am
afraid
I
never
shall
.
"
"
But
indeed
,
Miss
Ellen
,
she
will
be
displeased
if
I
do
not
.
Why
,
only
the
other
morning
she
was
quite
concerned
that
I
had
not
told
her
Jane
was
ill
directly
,
and
went
herself
two
or
three
times
every
day
to
see
she
had
every
thing
proper
and
comfortable
.
"
"
But
that
is
quite
different
,
dear
Ellis
;
do
get
the
lotion
;
I
feel
as
if
I
could
not
bear
this
pain
much
longer
without
crying
;
you
can
tell
her
afterward
,
if
you
think
you
ought
.
"
And
seeing
that
farther
argument
only
increased
the
poor
child
's
sufferings
,
Ellis
promised
,
and
left
her
.
Ellen
leaned
her
forehead
against
the
side
of
her
little
bed
,
and
held
the
curtain
tightly
clasped
,
as
if
so
to
prevent
the
utterance
of
the
hysteric
sob
that
would
rise
in
her
throat
,
though
she
did
not
know
what
it
was
.
But
the
wholly
unexpected
sound
of
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
voice
saying
,
close
by
her
,
"
I
am
afraid
you
have
one
of
your
very
bad
headaches
,
Ellen
,
"
so
startled
her
,
as
to
make
her
raise
her
head
suddenly
;
and
the
movement
caused
such
agony
,
that
,
spite
of
all
her
efforts
,
she
could
not
prevent
an
almost
convulsive
cry
of
pain
.
"
My
dear
child
!
I
had
no
idea
of
pain
like
this
;
why
did
you
not
send
for
me
?
We
have
always
prevented
its
becoming
so
very
violent
by
taking
it
in
time
,
my
Ellen
.
"
"
Miss
Ellen
would
not
let
me
go
for
you
,
madam
,
"
rejoined
Ellis
,
who
,
to
her
mistress
's
inexpressible
relief
,
was
close
at
hand
with
the
remedies
she
wanted
,
and
she
repeated
what
the
child
had
said
.
"
Again
your
old
mistake
,
Ellen
.
I
would
so
much
,
so
very
much
rather
hear
you
say
you
were
resolved
to
deserve
my
love
,
than
that
you
did
not
merit
it
.
Why
should
you
not
deserve
it
as
well
as
your
brother
and
cousins
,
if
you
determined
with
all
your
heart
to
try
and
not
do
any
thing
to
lessen
it
?
Nothing
is
so
likely
to
prevent
your
even
endeavoring
to
deserve
it
,
as
the
mistaken
fancy
that
you
never
shall
;
but
you
are
too
unwell
to
listen
to
me
now
;
we
must
try
all
we
can
to
remove
this
terrible
pain
,
and
then
see
if
we
can
bring
back
happiness
too
.
"
And
for
above
an
hour
did
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
with
the
most
patient
tenderness
,
apply
the
usual
remedies
,
cheered
by
finding
that
,
though
much
more
slowly
than
usual
,
still
by
degrees
the
violence
of
the
pain
did
subside
,
and
the
hysterical
affection
give
way
to
natural
and
quiet
tears
.
Exhaustion
produced
a
deep
though
not
very
long
sleep
,
and
after
watching
her
some
few
minutes
very
anxiously
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
sat
down
by
her
bed
,
and
half
unconsciously
drew
toward
her
Ellen
's
little
Bible
,
which
lay
open
on
the
table
,
as
if
it
had
been
only
lately
used
.
Several
loose
papers
were
between
the
leaves
;
her
eyes
filled
with
tears
as
she
read
on
one
of
them
a
little
prayer
,
touching
from
the
very
childishness
of
the
language
and
imperfect
writing
,
beseeching
her
Father
in
Heaven
in
His
great
mercy
to
forgive
her
sin
,
and
give
her
courage
to
speak
the
truth
,
to
help
her
not
to
be
so
frightened
,
but
to
guide
her
in
her
difficult
path
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
little
guessed
how
difficult
it
was
,
but
she
hoped
more
from
the
effects
of
her
present
penitence
than
she
had
done
yet
.
She
had
copied
,
too
,
several
verses
from
the
various
parts
of
the
Old
and
New
Testament
which
were
condemnatory
of
falsehood
,
and
her
aunt
felt
no
longer
undecided
as
to
her
course
of
action
.
"
You
have
employed
your
solitary
hours
so
well
,
my
dear
Ellen
,
"
she
said
,
as
,
when
the
child
awoke
and
looked
anxiously
toward
her
—
she
kissed
her
cheek
with
even
more
than
her
usual
fondness
—
"
that
I
scarcely
require
your
assurance
of
repentance
or
promises
of
amendment
.
When
you
have
taken
some
coffee
,
and
think
you
are
well
enough
to
listen
to
me
,
I
will
read
you
an
illustration
of
the
fearful
sin
of
falsehood
from
the
Old
Testament
,
which
I
do
not
think
I
have
yet
pointed
out
to
you
.
Ananias
and
Sapphira
,
I
see
you
remember
.
"
And
when
Ellen
had
taken
the
delicious
cup
of
coffee
,
which
her
aunt
had
ordered
should
be
ready
for
her
directly
she
awoke
,
and
sat
up
,
though
her
head
was
still
so
weak
it
required
the
support
of
a
pillow
,
yet
she
seemed
so
revived
,
so
almost
happy
,
from
the
mesmeric
effect
of
that
warm
,
fond
kiss
,
that
her
aunt
did
not
hesitate
to
continue
the
lesson
she
was
so
anxious
to
impress
,
while
the
mind
and
heart
were
softened
to
receive
it
.
She
turned
to
the
fourth
chapter
of
the
second
book
of
Kings
,
and
after
briefly
relating
the
story
of
Naaman
—
for
she
did
not
wish
to
divert
Ellen
's
attention
from
the
one
important
subject
,
by
giving
any
new
ideas
—
she
read
from
the
20th
verse
to
the
end
,
and
so
brought
the
nature
of
Gehazi
's
sin
and
its
awful
punishment
,
at
the
hand
of
God
himself
(
for
the
prophet
was
merely
an
instrument
of
the
Eternal
,
he
had
no
power
in
himself
to
call
the
disease
of
leprosy
on
his
servant
)
to
Ellen
's
mind
,
that
she
never
forgot
it
.
"
Do
you
think
Elisha
knew
where
he
had
been
,
and
what
he
had
done
,
before
he
asked
him
?
"
she
ventured
timidly
to
inquire
,
as
her
aunt
ceased
;
"
Gehazi
had
told
a
falsehood
already
to
Naaman
.
Do
you
think
God
punished
that
or
his
falsehood
to
Elisha
?
"
"
Most
probably
he
punished
both
,
my
love
.
Elisha
no
doubt
knew
how
his
servant
had
been
employed
in
his
absence
,
in
fact
he
tells
him
so
"
—
and
she
read
the
26th
verse
again
—
"
but
he
asked
him
whence
he
had
come
,
to
give
him
an
opportunity
for
a
full
confession
of
his
first
sin
,
which
then
,
no
doubt
would
,
after
some
slight
rebuke
,
have
been
pardoned
.
It
was
a
very
great
fault
at
first
,
but
the
mercy
of
God
was
then
,
as
it
is
now
,
so
infinite
so
forgiving
,
that
,
had
Elisha
's
question
recalled
Gehazi
to
a
sense
of
his
great
guilt
and
excited
real
repentance
,
his
punishment
would
have
been
averted
.
But
his
aggravated
and
repeated
falsehood
called
down
on
him
a
chastisement
most
terrible
even
to
think
about
.
Leprosy
was
not
merely
a
dreadful
disease
in
itself
,
but
it
cut
him
off
,
from
all
the
blessings
and
joys
not
only
of
social
life
but
of
domestic
;
because
,
as
God
had
said
it
should
cleave
to
his
seed
as
well
as
to
himself
,
he
could
never
find
any
one
who
would
dare
to
love
him
,
and
he
must
have
been
compelled
to
lonely
misery
all
his
life
.
"
"
It
was
a
very
dreadful
punishment
,
"
repeated
Ellen
,
fearfully
.
"
It
was
,
dearest
;
but
it
was
merciful
,
notwithstanding
.
If
,
God
had
passed
it
by
,
and
permitted
Gehazi
to
continue
his
sinful
course
,
without
any
check
or
chastisement
that
would
recall
him
to
a
sense
of
better
things
,
and
a
wish
to
pursue
them
,
he
might
have
continued
apparently
very
happy
in
this
life
,
to
be
miserable
forever
in
the
next
;
to
be
banished
forever
from
God
and
His
good
angels
;
and
would
not
that
have
been
still
more
dreadful
than
the
heaviest
suffering
here
?
In
those
times
God
manifested
his
judgments
through
His
prophets
directly
.
That
is
not
the
case
now
,
but
He
has
given
us
His
word
to
tell
us
,
by
history
as
well
as
precept
,
those
things
that
are
pleasing
to
Him
,
and
those
which
excite
His
anger
;
and
which
,
if
not
corrected
while
we
are
in
this
world
,
will
cause
our
condemnation
when
our
souls
appear
before
Him
in
judgment
,
and
when
we
can
not
correct
them
if
we
would
.
Now
children
,
and
even
young
people
,
can
not
know
those
things
as
well
as
their
parents
and
guardians
can
,
and
if
we
neglect
to
teach
them
right
and
wrong
,
God
is
more
angry
with
us
than
with
them
,
as
He
tells
Ezekiel
.
"
She
read
from
the
18th
to
the
22d
verse
of
the
third
chapter
,
and
explained
it
,
so
that
Ellen
could
clearly
understand
it
,
and
then
said
.
"
And
now
,
my
dear
Ellen
,
can
you
quite
understand
and
quite
feel
why
I
have
caused
you
so
much
pain
,
and
been
,
as
I
dare
say
you
have
felt
,
so
very
,
very
severe
?
"
Ellen
's
arms
were
round
her
neck
in
a
moment
,
and
her
head
cradled
on
her
bosom
,
as
her
sole
reply
,
for
she
felt
she
could
not
speak
at
first
,
without
crying
again
.
"
I
wish
I
could
remember
that
God
sees
me
wherever
I
am
,
"
she
said
after
a
short
pause
,
and
very
sadly
.
"
I
am
so
frightened
when
I
think
of
any
body
's
anger
,
even
Caroline
's
,
that
I
can
not
remember
any
thing
else
.
"
"
Did
you
notice
the
Psalm
we
read
the
day
before
yesterday
,
my
dear
Ellen
,
in
the
morning
lesson
?
"
The
child
had
not
;
and
her
aunt
turning
to
the
129th
,
read
the
first
twelve
and
the
two
last
verses
carefully
with
her
,
adding
—
"
Suppose
you
learn
one
verse
for
me
every
morning
,
till
you
can
repeat
the
whole
fourteen
perfectly
,
and
I
think
that
will
help
you
to
remember
it
,
my
Ellen
,
and
prove
to
me
that
you
really
are
anxious
to
correct
yourself
;
and
now
one
word
more
,
and
I
think
I
shall
have
talked
to
you
quite
enough
.
"
"
Indeed
,
indeed
I
am
not
tired
,
dear
aunt
,
"
replied
Ellen
,
very
earnestly
;
"
I
feel
when
you
are
talking
to
me
as
if
I
never
could
be
naughty
again
.
Oh
!
how
I
wish
I
never
were
.
"
"
I
am
not
so
unconscionable
as
to
expect
you
to
have
no
faults
,
my
dear
child
;
all
I
wish
you
to
attend
to
,
is
more
obedience
to
my
commands
.
I
have
not
said
any
thing
about
your
disobedience
,
because
your
untruth
was
of
still
more
consequence
,
but
that
grieved
me
too
,
for
disobedience
to
me
is
also
disobedience
to
God
,
for
He
has
commanded
you
to
obey
your
parents
and
guardians
;
as
you
said
you
remembered
I
had
told
you
not
to
move
the
flower-stand
,
I
can
not
imagine
what
could
have
induced
you
so
willfully
to
disobey
me
.
"
Ellen
looked
up
in
her
face
with
such
earnest
,
wistful
eyes
that
Mrs.
Hamilton
felt
puzzled
;
but
as
she
did
not
speak
,
and
laid
her
head
again
on
its
resting
place
,
to
hide
the
tears
that
rose
,
her
aunt
merely
added
—
"
But
as
I
do
not
wish
to
inflict
any
further
pain
,
I
will
not
say
any
thing
more
about
it
;
only
remember
,
that
though
I
may
be
displeased
if
you
disobey
me
again
,
an
instant
and
full
confession
will
soon
gain
my
forgiveness
;
and
that
though
I
will
never
doubt
your
word
,
still
,
if
I
discover
another
untruth
,
it
will
and
must
oblige
me
to
adopt
still
severer
measures
,
painful
as
it
will
be
to
myself
.
Do
not
tremble
so
,
my
Ellen
,
you
know
you
can
prevent
it
;
and
remember
too
that
whenever
you
fail
in
truth
,
you
punish
me
as
well
as
yourself
;
"
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
fondly
kissed
her
as
she
spoke
.
Light
steps
and
a
ringing
laugh
at
that
moment
sounded
in
the
passage
,
and
Emmeline
,
though
she
certainly
did
ask
if
she
might
enter
,
scarcely
waited
for
an
answer
,
before
she
bounded
in
,
the
very
personification
of
health
and
joy
.
"
Mamma
,
papa
wants
to
know
if
we
may
not
have
tea
to-night
,
and
if
we
may
not
have
Ellen
's
company
too
?
"
"
It
is
New
Year
's
Eve
,
"
pleaded
another
joyous
voice
,
and
Percy
's
brown
head
just
intruded
itself
through
the
half-opened
door
;
"
and
our
tree
will
not
be
half
enjoyable
unless
we
are
all
there
.
"
"
I
had
really
forgotten
your
tree
,
my
dear
children
,
but
I
am
glad
papa
and
you
all
have
remembered
it
.
Come
in
,
Percy
;
Ellen
will
,
I
dare
say
,
admit
you
into
her
room
.
"
"
He
raced
me
all
round
the
gallery
,
mamma
,
declaring
he
would
give
you
papa
's
message
,
or
so
take
away
my
breath
,
that
even
if
I
outstripped
him
,
I
should
not
be
able
;
but
I
have
,
you
see
,
sir
.
"
"
Only
because
I
did
not
know
whether
it
was
quite
proper
to
enter
a
young
lady
's
room
.
But
do
come
,
mamma
;
Mr.
Howard
is
with
us
as
usual
,
and
we
are
all
au
desespoir
for
you
and
our
little
Ellen
—
she
may
come
,
I
can
read
it
in
your
eyes
.
"
"
Are
you
well
enough
,
my
love
?
Do
you
think
this
poor
little
head
will
permit
you
to
join
us
?
"
asked
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
anxiously
,
for
the
sudden
joy
that
gleamed
in
Ellen
's
eyes
at
the
idea
of
joining
the
family
,
told
what
the
disappointment
would
be
if
she
could
not
.
"
It
does
not
hurt
me
at
all
if
I
can
rest
it
,
aunt
;
but
I
am
afraid
it
will
not
let
me
walk
,
"
she
added
,
sorrowfully
,
as
the
attempt
to
walk
caused
it
to
throb
again
.
"
Never
mind
,
Nelly
,
even
if
you
can
not
walk
;
you
shall
make
use
of
my
pedestrian
powers
,
"
replied
Percy
,
joyously
;
"
rest
your
head
on
my
shoulder
—
that
's
it
—
I
should
make
a
capital
nurse
I
declare
;
should
I
not
,
mamma
?
"
And
gayly
answering
in
the
affirmative
,
his
mother
could
scarcely
prevent
a
throb
of
pride
,
as
she
looked
on
his
fine
manly
face
,
beaming
with
benevolent
kindness
on
his
little
cousin
,
whom
he
had
tenderly
lifted
in
his
arms
,
and
checked
his
boisterous
mirth
and
rapid
stride
to
accommodate
her
.
"
You
are
not
quite
so
light
as
Tiny
,
but
she
is
all
air
;
I
expect
she
will
evaporate
some
day
:
never
mind
your
hair
,
it
does
very
well
.
"
"
Stop
,
I
will
smooth
it
in
a
moment
,
"
exclaimed
Emmeline
,
eagerly
;
"
it
is
Sunday
,
Percy
,
she
shall
look
well
.
"
"
You
had
better
let
me
do
it
,
Emmy
,
"
said
her
mother
,
smiling
;
"
your
cousin
's
head
can
only
bear
very
tender
handling
to-night
.
There
,
that
will
do
—
and
I
am
quite
ready
to
attend
you
.
"
The
lights
,
the
joyous
voices
,
even
her
uncle
's
kind
greeting
,
almost
overpowered
poor
Ellen
;
as
Percy
,
still
preserving
his
character
of
an
admirable
nurse
,
laid
her
carefully
on
a
couch
in
the
sitting-room
,
where
