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.