Never was any one more wretched than Louisa. She went home the same day, for though Captain Perceval was a Christian man and tried to forgive as he would be forgiven, he could not bear the sight of one who had, as it seemed, been the cause of his child's death. Of course Louisa's father and mother had to hear the story—indeed Louisa herself told her mother all about the matter, with many bitter tears.
"I shall always feel as if I had killed little Milly!" said she. "Cousin James said my faithlessness had caused her death, and I believe it is true."
"I am afraid so!" said Mrs. Grey, sadly. "I have always feared that your besetting sin would lead to some terrible consequences. I hoped you had seen it in its true light and were trying to conquer it."
"I thought I had conquered it, mamma," said Louisa. "I thought I had got all over it!"
"And so you left off watching and praying against it, did you not?"
"Yes, mamma."
"Oh, Louisa, that was a great mistake! You ought never to leave off watching and praying against your faults, for you can never be sure you have quite conquered, especially when a bad habit has been indulged as long as yours has been."
"But what shall I do now, mamma?" sobbed Louisa. "There is no use in my trying any more, now that I have killed poor Milly. I am afraid God will never forgive me."
"You must not think so, my poor child. I hope dear Milly may be spared to our prayers, but even if she is not, you must not despair of God's forgiveness. 'Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow.'"
"But, mamma, I have been wicked so long! And I have done wrong on purpose. I have always known it was wrong to waste my time so, and to indulge myself in everything I wanted to do, excusing myself by saying that it was only for a minute. I knew all the time it was wrong to leave Milly alone so long, and yet I did it because I wanted to look at the book."