He stopped short in its undressing and listened. The voice sounded in his ears so plain:
"My son, if sinners entice thee consent thou not."
This was his last Sunday's verse, and his teacher had explained it to the class. "Yes," faltered poor Jimmy, starting at the shadow his light threw of the bedpost. "Yes, Daniel is a bad boy 'cause he tells awful lies, and he swears too. He is a sinner. He enticed me to go to the pond, and I did consent. I wish I hadn't. I wish I'd said no, I must go to school. Then I shouldn't have had to tell a lie. I suppose 'tis a real lie 'cause Ellen thinks I went. I'm awful sorry. I wish I dared tell mother; but she'd cry so, and then she'd think I'm worse than I am, 'cause I never played truant before; and I haven't told any lies, not real ones. No, I daren't tell her. Ellen will forget all about Ralph before to-morrow."
Jimmy had been taught to kneel by his bedside before he retired, and ask God to forgive his sins of the past day, to help him be a good child, and to take care of him while he was asleep. Never since he could remember had one night passed in which he had not done this, though often his heart was not in his petitions. What was it now that made him hesitate, and finally conclude not to pray this once?
It was the voice of conscience saying, "You are a very wicked boy; you are growing worse every minute. You know you ought to confess your sins to God, and then to your mother. How dare you ask your Father in heaven to bless and keep you, when you are not sorry for having offended him?"
Jimmy jumped into bed, covered the clothes over his head, resolved not to think any more about the sail on the pond; but it was a long time before he fell asleep.
All this happened on Tuesday. Friday noon Daniel met Jimmy accompanied by Gip, as he was going an errand for his mother, and said:
"S'posing we go sailing again. I want to get some lilies; and I know where I can get a cent apiece for 'em."