But it was only for a moment. Bessie had watched and prayed that she might not enter into temptation; and she was not suffered to fall. Her honest, truthful little soul saw it all clearly. Helping Jemmy was not "God's work," if it led her into sin against Him, Truth first, before all things: to speak truth, to act truth.
"There!" said Kate, as the child hesitated for that instant; "I thought you'd be a good child, and do as we wanted you to. She promises, girls!"
"No," said Bessie, with her colour coming and going, and pressing her little hands tightly together: "I can't, Miss Kate; not even for lame Jemmy—not even if you never love me any more, or speak to me again. It would not be true."
"It is not telling a story, I tell you," said Kate sharply, as she heard the rest of the class in the hall below, and knew that in another moment it would be too late.
"But it would be behaving a story," said Bessie, "'cause it would be letting Mrs. Ashton believe I didn't know about it. I can't see why it is not just the same; and I know Jesus would be sorry to have me earn the prize for Jemmy that way."
"Go, then!" said Kate, suddenly lifting the child down from the desk, and placing her on her feet,—"go, then! you are no pet of mine after this: I want nothing more to do with you."
"That won't trouble her," said Mary, with a sneer. "A fine pretence of affection she has made for you, only to serve you in this way, Kate!"
"Bessie, your nurse is waiting for you," said Miss Laura Jones, who just then entered the room. "Why, what is the matter?" as she saw the little one's troubled face, and those of the older girls flushed and angry.
"The matter is, that here is a mean, hateful little tell-tale," said Fanny.
"Take care what you do before her, or she will run and tell Mrs. Ashton," said Mary.