Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Dodge had ever referred to Daniel Crawson since he was brought home, though Jimmy had confessed with bitter tears, his own wicked conduct. The father took a seat by the bed, thinking this would be a good opportunity to test his son's feeling toward the one who had so severely injured him.
"You are almost well now, Jimmy," he began; "but as the vacation commences so soon I don't think it will be best for you to go again till fall."
"I'm so sorry, father, I shall be behind all my classes." Jimmy sighed and then added softly: "I'm almost glad I was hurt though."
"Why, Jimmy!"
"Yes, father, mother knows all about it. I was getting to be a very wicked boy. When I told the first lie to Ellen, after Ralph came, I was awfully afraid: I tried to make believe it wasn't a lie; but all the time I knew it was, because I'd made Ellen think I was at school. I didn't pray to God that night 'cause I knew that He had heard me; and I was afraid to promise Him that I wouldn't tell any more. You see I had to make an excuse to the teacher. I missed almost all my lessons; and when Miss Reynolds called me up, and looked so kindly right into my eyes, and asked, 'where is my good, studious Jimmy Dodge?' I had to try hard to keep from crying. Oh, father, I know now that wicked boys who tell lies and deceive their parents can't be happy!"
"But you went again, my son." The father's voice was very sad.
"Yes, father; but I was sorry all the time. I knew you wouldn't like me to be with a boy who swears, and tells lies, and gets angry. While I was in the boat, I resolved that I would take my lilies and come right home, and tell mother all about it, and ask God to help me be a good boy. I never knew whether Daniel gave me any lilies."
"Would you like to see Daniel and ask him about it?"
"Oh no, sir, I don't care about them now! We were going to sell them for a cent apiece. I suppose he sold his. We got ever so many."
"I don't think poor Daniel or his father thought of the lilies. They had something else to think of."