"I was only shaming her a little, because she sat there crying just like a great baby."
"You did very wrong, indeed," said Miss Layton.
"I'm sure I didn't hurt her," said Sallie, sullenly.
"Yes, you did, Sallie," replied her teacher, "you hurt her feelings: and that is often harder to bear than bodily pain. I shall punish you by making you stand out on the floor fifteen minutes."
School had seldom seemed so long to Ella, and yet she was almost sorry to hear Miss Layton say, "School is dismissed;" so much did she dread being left alone with her justly offended teacher. Miss Layton sat at her desk, reading, until the other scholars had all gone, and she was left alone with Ella; then, closing her book, she called the little girl to her.
"Ella," said she, taking her hand and drawing her close to her side, "you have had very good lessons, and behaved very well all the time that I have been your teacher, until to-day. Now, tell me, my child, how it happens that to-day you have behaved so badly, and recited so poorly."
Miss Layton spoke very kindly, and Ella felt encouraged to open her heart to her, and tell her the whole truth; how she had put off learning her lessons, first for one thing, then for another, until there was no time to do it, and then, in her haste to get to school in season, had forgotten her books.
"I am glad, Ella," said Miss Layton, when the child had finished her story, "that you have told me the truth, instead of trying to contrive false excuses. I can forgive anything sooner than falsehood, for that is so very wicked. But you have been guilty of several very serious faults, Ella. Your first wrong step was preferring pleasure to duty. There is an old saying which I think is very true, 'Procrastination is the thief of time.'"