"Why, what is this?" asked papa, coming behind her on tiptoe.
"O papa!" Ida was so excited she sprang almost out of her chair. "I'm going to help the oranges to you and everybody. I've began to be good, and mamma won't have to pray for me any more."
"You have, indeed, arrived at a state of perfection, if that is no longer necessary," replied Mr. Rent, with a smile; "but I want to hear all the particulars of so important a change."
"Mamma will tell you about it. Oh, I'm so good!" and her eyes sparkled with happiness.
"Papa would like best to hear it from his little girl," said mamma, kissing her. "Then we will sit down to tea, and you may help us to your oranges."
The child looked somewhat confused, not knowing exactly where to begin.
"You know," said Berty, "you began to kick and scream because you wanted my orange."
"Yes, papa; and I saw mamma crying behind her handkerchief; and I didn't kick any more. I said right off I'd be good; and then mamma hugged me awfully. Now may I help to the orange?"
"Wait a minute, dear, till papa has thanked the good God for helping his little girl do right."
Papa kissed her with a tear twinkling in his eye. After he had asked God's blessing on the food, Ida began her pleasant task, passing each a few pieces of the fruit and laughing gayly as Aunt Mary, Berty, and papa said, "Thank you, Miss Kent."