“Look here, Comfort,” said she; and Comfort looked. There in its own little compartment lay the ring. “Miss Tabitha Hanks found it in the road, and she thought you had taken it unbeknownst to me, and so she brought it here,” explained her mother. “I didn't let you know because I wanted to see if you would be a good girl enough to tell me of your own accord, and I'm glad you have, Comfort.”
Then Comfort's mother carried her almost bodily back to the warm kitchen and sat her before the fire to toast her feet, while she made some cream-toast for her supper.
Her grandmother had a peppermint in her pocket, and she slid it into Comfort's hand. “Grandma knew she would tell, and she won't never do such a thing again, will she?” said she.
“No, ma'am,” replied Comfort. And the peppermint in her mouth seemed to be the very flavor of peace and forgiveness.
After Comfort was in bed and asleep that night her elders talked the matter over. “I knew she would tell finally,” said Mrs. Pease; “but it's been a hard lesson for her, poor child, and she's all worn out—that long tramp to Bolton, too”
“I 'most wish her Aunt Comfort hadn't been so dreadful careful about getting her a ring big enough,” said Grandmother Atkins.
Mr. Pease looked at his wife and cleared his throat. “What do you think of my getting her a ring that would fit her finger, Em'ly?” he asked, timidly.
“Now, father, that's all a man knows!” cried Mrs. Pease. “If you went and bought that child a ring now it would look just as if you were paying her for not minding. You'd spoil all the lesson she's got, when she's worked so dreadful hard to learn it. You wait awhile.”
“Well, I suppose you know best, Em'ly,” said Mr. Pease; but he made a private resolution. And so it happened that three months later, when it was examination day at school, and Comfort had a new blue tibet dress to wear, and some new ribbon to tie her hair, that her mother handed her a little box just before she started.
“Here,” said she. “Your father has been over to Gerrish's, and here's something he bought you. I hope you'll be careful and not lose it.”