“Don’t you believe it,” said Miss Lane. “I tell you these children are wiser in sin than we older people can imagine. That boy needs to be whipped within an inch of his life, the little reprobate! I’d give him such a lecture as would make his eyes open wide for once. I’d make him understand that he’d better not let me catch him in such mischief again. And I’d tell Mrs. Glenn about it so that she could punish Susie.”
“I really am afraid that the result would not be what we wish. Suppose we go and talk it over with Dr. Barrett. Maybe she can tell us what to do.”
Dr. Barrett received the ladies with cordiality and professed herself willing to aid them in the solution of their problem. She did not appear as shocked as they did, and even smiled a little as Miss Lane, in indignant tones, read aloud the offending note.
“Don’t you think that little rascal should be nearly annihilated?” she asked, turning to the Doctor.
“I think he should be instructed,” replied the latter. “Will you send him to me, Miss Bell?”
“Most gladly, but I don’t believe he will come.”
“Yes he will, if you don’t frighten him beforehand. Don’t say a word to him about the affair, but send him with a note to me and tell him to wait for an answer.”
The next evening Carl appeared at the Doctor’s residence with the note from Miss Bell. “I am to wait for an answer,” he said.
Dr. Barrett only nodded as she wrote on steadily for a moment, seeming too much engrossed in her 7 work to notice him. Then she read the note, thought a moment, excused herself and left the room. Returning immediately she said, “It will be half an hour before the answer is ready. Can you wait?”