“Oh, if you would keep me! If you would keep me,” said Maggie, “and give me one more chance!”
“Have you asked God to forgive you, Maggie?” said Mrs. Ward.
“I cannot, somehow; my heart is so cold. But if—if you would”––
“We will ask Him together,” said Mrs. Ward.
There and then she knelt down, and Aneta and Maggie knelt at each side of her, and she said a few words of prayer which touched Maggie’s heart as no words had ever touched it before. “Keep from her all hurtful things, and give her those things which are necessary for her salvation,” pleaded the mistress.
Suddenly Mrs. Ward’s hand was taken by Maggie and covered with kisses. “Oh, I will try!” she said; “I will try hard to be really good! And,” she added, “I will take any punishment you give me.”
Mrs. Ward looked at her with sparkling eyes. She was a very keen observer of character. She put her hand under the girl’s chin and looked into her downcast face.
“My dear,” she said, “full and absolute forgiveness means the doing away with punishment. You have suffered sorely; I will not add to your suffering in any way. Now, go and prepare for to-morrow’s entertainment.—Aneta, you will stay with me for a few minutes.”
Maggie left the room, but in a short time she returned. She carried in her arms the two tin boxes which contained her father’s treasures.
“I want you to keep these for me, or to sell them, or to do what you like with them,” said Maggie. She then immediately left the room.