“Sit down!” said the Angel.
“But it is school-time!” said the child.
“Sit down!” said the Angel.
“But father sent me on an errand!” said the child.
“Sit Down!” said the Angel; and he took the child by her shoulders and set her down.
“Now sit still!” he said, and he began patiently to wind up the skein. It was wofully tangled, and knotted about the child’s hands and feet; it was a wonder she could move at all; but at last it was all clear, and the Angel handed her the ball.
“I thank you so very much!” said the child. “I was not naughty, was I?”
“Not naughty, only foolish; but that does just as much harm sometimes.”
“But I was doing right things!” said the child.