in
ignorance of work.'

'Yes, certainly you would; when I insist upon your attending to your few
duties at a particular time--can you imagine the reason of this? Why not
read the book this morning, and make up the lost time this evening?'
Effie could not tell, and Mrs Maurice went on to explain the necessity
of _order_ in the distribution of time, and shewed her little daughter,
that it was as necessary in the government of a house as in the
government of a nation. 'But that is not the only bad effect,' she
added, 'of your self-indulgence.'

'Oh no, mother, it made me disobedient to you, though I am sure I didn't
think of being so at the time.'

'I dare say not, but you see when we once go wrong, we are like a
traveller who has lost his path, and can be certain of nothing.'

'Then I forgot my duty to poor Mrs Gilman--I even made myself believe
that there was no need of going to see her; and I was cross to Harry,
and so selfish, that if I had not been ashamed to own it, I would have
had him give up his ride and go with the medicine.'

'And he would rather have gone ten times than--'

'I know it, mother, rather a hundred times than have the baby die.'

'Or see you do so very wrong.'

'Oh, Harry has been crying about it, I know, though he can't feel half
so badly as I do. But that was not all, mother--last of all, I broke my
promise. I told Harry I would go as soon as I finished the chapter.'

'And all this,' said Mrs Maurice, 'is the result of what, under other
circumstances, would be a mere innocent gratification, a pleasant
pastime, and a useful exercise.'

'But, mother, when I once begun, I thought I could not stop.'

'Then that was the very moment when you should have stopped, and this
one victory would have made others easier. Now I am not afraid, my dear,
of your being led astray (at least at present) by things which you know
to be wrong; your danger lies on the unguarded side, and yet it is as
likely to prove fatal to your peace of mind, your piety, and your
usefulness.'

'It never seemed to me before, that so much evil could come from such a
small thing.'

'Then you have learned an all-important lesson, which I trust will not
be soon forgotten.'

'But, mother, I shall always be afraid of doing wrong now--I don't even
know what is right.'

'That shews me, Effie, that you begin to look upon yourself as you
really are. If you are left to yourself, you will do wrong; but if you
distrust self, and