"You have punished yourself without going in the closet," she said. "This poor little foot must have some salve on it, and be bound up; and you cannot wear a shoe for several days, lest it should be rubbed. So you will have to stay in the house and not go out at all.
"And, Belle," Mrs. Bradford went on more slowly now, "a telegram came from your father a short time ago, saying that he would be here to-night, and begging me to send you to the railroad depôt to meet him; but it will be late, and I am afraid to let you go out even in a carriage, after you have run so much risk of taking cold. He will have to be disappointed, my little girl; and I fear he will be sorry when he sees your foot, and hears how it was hurt."
Now, indeed, Belle felt that she was punished for her disobedience. The delight of having her father back again was almost lost sight of in her distress at not being able to go and meet him, and the thought that he would know how naughty she had been.
Mrs. Bradford put her on the sofa, and brought some salve and soft linen, and bound up the foot, after which Belle was carried down-stairs, so that she might have her dinner with the other children. But she could not eat; the thought of her father and his disappointment brought a great lump in her throat; and, though she tried hard not to cry, the tears would find their way out and roll down her cheeks. Maggie and Bessie did their best to console her, but all in vain; and when, at last, they went out for their walk, which mamma would not allow them to omit, they left her on the Library sofa in a very mournful state.
"If papa wouldn't look sorry, I wouldn't care so very much," said Belle, as Mrs. Bradford tried to comfort her. "I promised him to be good all the time, and I went and was naughty just when he was coming back."
"I am very sorry for you, dear," said Mrs. Bradford; "but I shall tell your papa you have been a good girl all the rest of the time; and this will help you to remember that your older friends know best."
"Yes'm," sobbed Belle. "But, Aunt Margaret, I don't think myself gave myself such a great, large punishment as this. I don't think I could do it. I guess God did it, 'cause He knew I deserved it, for disobeying you so. Maybe He thought I wouldn't tell you, and you wouldn't know to punish me, so He better do it. I forgot He saw me, till my foot was hurt, and I was 'fraid on the fence."
"Yes," said Mrs. Bradford; "I think you are right, and that our Father in heaven meant to give His little girl a lesson. What lesson has my Belle learned this morning?"
"To mind you, my wise friend," said Belle.
"Yes; and what else?"