I can’t tell you how happy Jessie felt at having resisted this strong temptation. A warm current of joy flowed through her heart, and bore away all regret which thinking on the loss of a pleasant walk might have otherwise caused her to feel. Her eyes sparkled with delight. Her fingers almost flew, and the quilt gained in size very fast.
But fifteen minutes more had not passed, when Emily and Charlie bounced into the room.
“We want you to play with us,” said Emily. “We are tired of playing together without company, and want you.”
“I want you to play horses. I’ve got some twine for a pair of reins, and you two girls will make a capital span. Come, hurry up, Jessie!” said Charlie, who had got over his ducking in the brook, and was as rude and ready for mischief as ever.
“I’m very sorry,” replied Jessie, “but I can’t go with you. I must sew on my quilt till tea-time.”
“Must, eh! Who says you must?” replied Emily with a sneer.
“I have made a resolution to punish myself for going out this morning when I ought to have stayed in,” said Jessie, firmly.
“Pooh,” said Charlie, “that’s all nonsense. She is too proud to play with us. She is a regular Miss Stuckup, and I won’t own her for my cousin any more;” and with this hard speech the boy left the parlor, walking backwards, and making mouths as he went.
“I do think you ought to play with us, Jessie,” said Emily. “You know we have only one day more to spend with you, and it’s very unkind of you to stay in here and leave me to amuse myself as best I can. As to your resolution, I s’pose you made it on purpose, because you didn’t want to play with us.”
This unkind speech made Jessie feel very badly. She doubted for a moment whether she had not erred in making her resolution before her cousins went home. She felt inclined to drop her work, and go out with her very ungracious cousins. But her second thoughts assured her that it was her first duty to conquer the habit which had caused her so much trouble. So looking with moistening eyes at her cousin, she replied—