"You won't tell Mr. Harding, will you, Maria?"
"About your half-crown? No. I hope you will never, never bet again; and take my advice, and have no more to do with that young man who tempted you to do wrong."
"I wish I'd never seen him!"
John Monday was in better spirits after his talk with Maria, although the loss of his money still weighed upon his mind. Maria felt troubled about him, and during the remainder of the day she was haunted by the look of despondency on his face which had first attracted her attention in the morning. As she and Mousey were leaving the mission chapel after the evening service, the little girl said in an excited whisper—
"Maria, did you see John Monday?"
"No," Maria answered.
When they were outside the building Mousey continued—
"He was sitting behind a pillar; but he left the minute the service was over. Look, there he is in front of us."
At that moment John Monday glanced back, and, seeing them, waited till they came up.
"I saw you in church, John," Mousey told him. "Did you like the sermon? I was glad Mr. Bradley preached."