"Yes, Aunt Eunice."
"And don't thee know that he has forgiven it, and washed it all away? Don't thee know that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin?"
"Yes, Aunt Eunice. The Bible says so."
"Well, then, why should thee think that the sin which he has not only forgiven but washed away—made as if it had never been—is going to prevent him from helping thee now? Why, thee wouldn't let this matter hinder thee from helping Emma or even Tilly, would thee—especially if they said they were sorry, and asked thy forgiveness?"
"I wouldn't, anyway," answered Florry. "But, Aunt Eunice, suppose Mr. Mansfield should send me to the State Prison for stealing the watch?"
Aunt Eunice smiled. "Never fear, child. He can't send thee to prison; even if he should wish to; which he won't. There is no proof against thee. Put that thought out of thy mind for good. Very likely the watch will be found after all, and if it is not, nobody will think that thee took it. Now do as I tell thee. Commit thy ways unto the Lord, and trust in him, and wait for him to make thy innocence appear."
Florry went home feeling very much comforted. She read her Bible and said her prayers, and then lay down and went to sleep, feeling that she had a Friend in whom she could safely trust.
The next morning, Emma Hausen came to school again. She had had time to grow heartily ashamed of her anger against Florry, and of what she had said to Tilly Mansfield, especially since she had heard that Florry had asked leave to wait a term for her. Her first thought was to find Tilly, and give her a renewed charge not to repeat what she had said; and the next to see Florry, and give her the pretty presents she had brought her from the city. She found Tilly in the midst of a group of excited listeners in the school-room veranda, and heard her say:
"My father is coming home this morning, and then we shall see whether I am to be robbed or not."
"Robbed!" said Emma. "Who has robbed you?"