“How can we ascertain?” asked his mother.
“Why, if you should go and ask him about it, if he is really penitent, he will be troubled most to think of his disobedience in going; into the bad company; but if he is not penitent, he will not think of that, but only go to scolding about the bad boys.”
“That is true,” said she. “I have a great mind to go and try him.”
Rollo’s father thought it would be a good plan, and she, accordingly, walked along towards Rollo slowly, gathering berries as she went.
Rollo saw her coming, and said, “Here is mother, Lucy; let us go and give her our berries.”
So saying, he carried his basket up to her very pleasantly, and said, “Here, mother; see, here are all these berries I have been picking for you.”
“Ah,” said she, “did you pick all these for me?”
“E—h—no,” said he; “not all; Lucy gave me some.”
“Well, Lucy, I am very much obliged to you, and I am glad to see that you, Rollo, are pleasant again; I am sorry you went and got into difficulty with those boys.”
“They came and took away my berries,” said he, “and struck me—that great ugly Jim.”