She measured their work, and examined it; and when she saw that it was well done, she gave to each of her little workmen and workwomen the sixpence which they had earned, and she said, "I hope, my dears, that you will be happy this evening."
They all looked joyful; and as they held their sixpences in their hands they said, "If we had not helped one another, we should not have earned this money; and we should not be able to go to the cherry-orchard."
"Poor Owen!" whispered Marianne to her companions, "look how melancholy he is, sitting there alone at his work!—See! his hands tremble, so that he can scarcely hold the straws; he will not have nearly finished his work in time, he cannot go with us."
"He should not have trampled upon our cherries; and then perhaps we might have helped him," said Cymon.
"Let us help him, though he did trample on our cherries," said the good-natured Marianne,—"He is sorry for what he did, and he will never be so ill-humoured or ill-natured again—Come, let us go and help him—If we all help, we shall have his work finished in time, and then we shall all be happy together."
As Marianne spoke, she drew Cymon near to the corner where Owen was sitting; and all her companions followed.
"Before we offer to help him, let us try whether he is now inclined to be good-humoured, and good-natured."
"Yes, yes, let us try that first," said his companions.
"Owen, you will not have done time enough to go with us,"—said Cymon.
"No, indeed," said Owen, "I shall not; therefore I may as well give up all thoughts of it—It is my own fault, I know."