She was very sorry to do this, and the tears were in her eyes; but Sally was right glad to have the child punished as she deserved. Indeed, she had told Jane the day before that she did not see how mistress had so much patience with the naughty child.
Mrs. Gray did not intend to hurt Nelly. She only meant to fasten her hands and feet to the chair so as to prevent her doing any more mischief. She took large towels from the washstand to do this; but Nelly kicked and screamed, and at last made a great scratch on her aunt's face. After that Sally took the child in her arms, and held her so tight she could not move.
When they had fastened her firmly to her seat, they went out, and left her to think of her bad conduct.
Mrs. Gray went into her closet, and asked God to direct her what to do in order to make Nelly a good, obedient child.
After an hour she went back, and said, "Are you sorry, my dear, that you have been so naughty?"
"I don't love you. I want to go to Maria," was the only reply.
Her aunt sighed, when she found the little girl was not at all subdued, and she went out again.
If Nelly could have put her finger in her mouth, it would have been no punishment for her to stay there, for she could lie back in the chair and go to sleep.
When her uncle came home to dinner, he found Willie, and Frankie, and mamma, sitting silent and sad in the parlor, while from above stairs came the sound of loud and angry crying. The lady wept as she told her husband how naughty Nelly had behaved. "I had no idea," she said, "that she had so bad a temper."
"Shall I go up and talk with her?" asked the gentleman.