"Where in the woods?"
"By a great pine stump. He wanted me to go all the way with him; and I wouldn't;" and to this story Osric doggedly adhered.
"That must have been about half-past four, as nearly as we can get at it," said David. "What can have become of the child, father?"
"I cannot guess," replied his father; "but we must lose no time in seeking for him. There is a storm threatening, and if Christopher is lost in the woods, he may die of fright, if of nothing else, before morning. We must go back to the village, turn out the men, and search the woods. You are sure Christopher did not go in swimming?"
"He didn't while he was with me, that's all I know," said Osric, sullenly.
Mr. Parsons and David got into the buggy and drove rapidly towards the village. Mr. Dennison tried to get something more out of Osric, but in vain. At last, wearied out with his obstinacy, he punished him severely and sent him to bed.
Mrs. Dennison reproved Elsie for not telling the truth about the reason of her delay.
"I know it was naughty," sobbed Elsie. "I have felt so bad about it ever since, but I didn't know what to do."
"You may always know what to do when anybody, no matter who, tries to make you a sharer in any deceit," said her mother, "You do Osric harm instead of good, by always trying to cover up his faults. It is much better that he should be found out and punished. I do not mean that you are always to be telling of him, but you should never allow yourself to be drawn in by him to do what you know to be wrong. Now go to bed, and when you say your prayers, don't forget to ask forgiveness both for yourself and your brother, and pray that poor Osric may see his sin and repent of it."
There was no danger of Elsie's forgetting. She remembered what Alice had said about casting her burden on the Lord, and she tried to do it with all her heart. Then feeling very much humbled, but very much comforted, she went to bed, and was soon fast asleep.