Half an hour passed and Jessie was still busy as a bee over her quilt. Then her uncle entered the room with his outside coat nicely buttoned up to his chin, and his hat in his hand. He was equipped for a walk.
“Jessie, will you take a walk with your poor old uncle this fine afternoon?” said he.
This was offering one of the strongest of possible temptations to Jessie. A walk with Uncle Morris was to her a very great pleasure. Impulse whispered “Let the quilt go, and accept your uncle’s offer!” Jessie’s arms were even put forth in the act of dropping her work, when her eye rested on her written resolution, which she had pinned on the top edge of the work-basket. “I will finish my quilt,” said she down in her heart. Then putting her work back into her lap, and looking up at her uncle, who was a little puzzled by her unusual manner, she said—
“I thank you, Uncle, but I can’t go this afternoon.”
“Not go! What does my little puss mean?” exclaimed Uncle Morris, greatly surprised that his niece should decline his invitation.
Jessie took the paper from the basket, gave it to him, and, while a loving smile played round her lips, said—
“Please, Uncle, read this.”
The old gentleman put on his spectacles, glanced at the paper, and, as he gave it back to her, smiled, and said—
“Ha, ha, I see! going to run the little wizard through the heart with the spear of Resolution! Very good. I would rather see you conquer your enemy, my dear Jessie, than to have your company, much as I love it. So good-by, and may the Great Teacher help you to keep your resolution!”
“Good-by, Uncle!”