"Elisabeth is wrong. People often say that kind of thing, and it is a very great mistake. I think she only means that God is sorry. But He loves you always—always—even when you are naughty. Never forget that. If little Ivy were naughty, do you think her mother could leave off loving her? That could never happen. And you are God's little child—His own dear little child. It is just because He loves you so dearly that He is grieved when you are disobedient. And then you have to come back to Him, and tell Him how sorry you are, and ask Him to forgive you and to make you a better child, for the sake of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. Would you like to come with me now to His footstool, and tell Him?"
"Please!" Hecla whispered.
The Vicar knelt down and made her kneel beside him, and his arm was still round the child. "Say after me," he murmured, and he led the way with words that she knew well, words which seemed just made for her at that moment: only he put "I" instead of "we," that she might speak for herself.
"Almighty and most merciful Father—I have erred and strayed from Thy ways like a lost lamb—I have followed too much the devices and desires of my own heart—I have offended against Thy holy laws—"
And so on to the end. Then came a few simple words of his own, telling in what way she had acted wrongly, and how sorry she was, and how he and she earnestly prayed that, if it were God's will, dear little Ivy and Miss Storey might both soon be quite well again.
After which the Vicar went back to his chair, taking Hecla again upon his knee, and she felt quiet and comforted. And presently Elisabeth came in.
"Miss Storey wants to see Miss Hecla, please, sir."
"You may run upstairs, my child," the Vicar said, putting her down. "And don't cry any more. I shall see you to-morrow morning again."
Hecla went gravely upstairs, wondering what Auntie Millicent would say, and whether she would be punished, and hoping she would not be told again that everything was her doing, because she knew that would bring more tears. But when she went into the room she saw Auntie Millicent in bed, looking pale and shaky, not a bit like her usual self.
And Miss Storey, instead of saying a word of blame, held out both arms.