Charlie and Emily were dumb with confusion and shame. I think a little sorrow gushed up in Emily’s heart, when through her fingers she saw Jessie look with appealing and tearful eyes into Uncle Morris’s face, and heard her say in pleading tones:
“O Uncle! O Mamma! please let them stay another week; please do, for my sake! Please let them stay! They will be good after this, I know they will.”
This plea won both Mrs. Carlton’s and the old man’s consent, and Jessie kissing her cousins, said:
“There, you can stay. Aren’t you glad?”
CHAPTER VI.
The First Slide of the Season.
After Uncle Morris and Mrs. Carlton had consented to permit the self-willed cousins to remain a week longer at Glen Morris, the good old man led Emily into the library and talked with her for over half an hour, about the meanness and wickedness of lying. I cannot tell you exactly what he said to her, because I don’t know. That his words were weighty and solemn, I have no doubt; for when Emily left the library her eyes were red with weeping, and she went directly to her room and staid there alone until the bell called her to tea.
Before Emily slept that night, she did what she had not done before during her stay at Glen Morris. She kneeled at the bedside to say her prayers. When she arose, Jessie threw an arm around her waist and kissed her. This was done with so much tenderness, that Emily felt it to be a sign of her cousin’s sympathy with the new feelings and thoughts which were springing up within her heart. Returning the kiss, she said: