"It isn't the same kind of thing at all," said Katie, decidedly.
"I'm not so sure of that. Mother had a wrong to forgive, and so have you. The two things are alike there, at any rate. And see what a lot of good it has done Jack. Mother's beginning quite to love him, and he knows it, and it makes a different boy of him."
"I know somebody else who's a different boy," said Katie.
And then, as there was nobody there to see, and his manner was so encouraging, she put her arm round his neck and gave him what in her childish days she used to call "a bear's hug," and Robert not only submitted, but seemed quite to enjoy it.
"Katie," he said, half-shyly, "you've lost a friend to-day; suppose you make one of me instead. I think we could help each other to be—what father hoped we should try to be."
His words brought the promise she had made suddenly to her mind.
"Oh, Robert!"—and she actually gasped for breath—"I've forgotten all about that. I haven't tried yet one bit."
"It's not too late to begin, and you haven't—" he stopped a moment, then went on rapidly—"done anything awful as I have. But I know father has forgiven me. Katie, would you like to see the letter I got from him a few weeks ago? I haven't shown it to anybody yet—not even to mother; but I'd like you to read it."
Katie had no thought of herself as she went with her brother into his room and read that letter. It was full of forgiveness and loving counsel. Towards the end came the words:
"Don't think I love you less because of what has happened; I love you more. I know from what your mother has told me that you are not merely showing your repentance by words. Struggle on, dear boy, and with the help of God's Holy Spirit, which will be given in proportion as you ask, you will conquer nobly and bravely in the end."