elf?"

"I didn't, mamma: they were out."

"Some one else did it?"

"Yes, mamma; but you know I can't tell tales. It wasn't any of our
children, though, none of them were naughty but just me."

"Were you playing with the plate? did you break it?"

"No mamma, I didn't touch the plates, but I was dressing one of the
dollies. They are all locked up again now, mamma, and I don't think
anybody will touch them any more."

A little tender, serious talk on the sin and danger of disobedience to
parents, and the mother knelt with her child, and in a few simple words
asked God's forgiveness for her. Then telling Vi she must remain alone
in that room till bedtime, she left her.

Not one harsh or angry word had been spoken, and the young heart was
full of a passionate love to her mother that made the thought of having
grieved her a far bitterer punishment than the enforced solitude, though
that was at any time irksome enough to one of Vi's social, fun-loving
temperament.

It cost the mother a pang to inflict the punishment and leave the
darling alone in her trouble; but Elsie was not one to weakly yield to
inclination when it came in conflict with duty. Hers was not a selfish
love; she would bear any present pain to secure the future welfare of
her children.

She rejoined her friends in the drawing-room apparently as serenely
happy as her wont, but through all the afternoon and evening her heart
was with her little one in her banishment and grief, yearning over her
with tenderest mother love.

Little Elsie, too, missed her sister, and returning from her walk, went
in search of her. She found her at last in their mamma's dressing-room
seated at the window, her cheek resting on her hand, the tears coursing
slowly down, while her eyes gazed longingly out over the beautiful
fields and lovely orange groves.

"Oh my own Vi, my darling little sister! what's the matter?" asked
Elsie, clasping her in her arms, and kissing the wet cheek.

A burst of bitter sobs, while the small arms clung about the sister's
neck, and the golden head rested for an instant on her shoulder, then
the words, "Ah I'd tell you, but I can't now, for you must run right
away, because mamma said I must stay here all alone till bedtime."

"Then I must go, pet; but don't cry so: if you've been naughty and are
sorry, Jesus, and mamma too, will forgive you and love you just the
same," Elsie said, kissing her again, then releasing her, hurried from
the room,