“O Lucy,” said Royal; “not so. I only wanted you to run once, a little; just to put your finger on the knot while I tied it. Do you think there was any harm in that, Miss Anne?”
“No,” replied Miss Anne, “not if you asked in a proper manner. If you demanded it of her, or spoke harshly to her because she would not come,—then you did wrong; for she was under no obligation at all to run.”
“He scolded me a little,” said Lucy, “because I would not run.”
“O no,” said Royal.
“A little,” replied Lucy. “I only said a little.”
“Did you know what he wanted of you?” asked Miss Anne.
“No,” replied Lucy. “Only I supposed he wanted me to do something about his ship.”
“Well, I think, as he was waiting for you, you might have run along a little, Lucy. We ought to be willing to help one another. It is as much a duty to be kind to each other in little things as in great things; so that I think you were both somewhat to blame.”
“What was I to blame for?” asked Royal.
“For finding fault with her for not running,” replied Miss Anne, “and for speaking to her as if you had a right to require it of her. She was certainly under no obligation to come and help you at all, unless she chose to, herself.”