"Yes, Grandma, and _I_ am so sorry, but please, oh, Grandma dear,
--can't you just postpone the punishment till to-morrow? 'Cause
Molly and I are going to Blossom Banks to dig ferns, and it's such
a BEAUTIFUL day for ferns."

Grandma Sherwood hesitated. It almost broke her heart to deprive
the child of her holiday, and yet it was for Marjorie's own good
that an attempt must be made to cure her of her carelessness.

"No, Marjorie; I cannot postpone the punishment until to-morrow.
If you wanted to go rowing to-day, you should have waited to run
up these stairs until to-morrow. You didn't postpone your
naughtiness, so I cannot postpone its punishment."

Marjorie looked dumfounded. She had not intended to be naughty,
but also she had never supposed her gentle grandma could be so
severe. She looked utterly disconsolate, and said in despairing
tones: "But, Grandma, won't you let me go rowing this morning and
give me the punishment this afternoon? I must go; Molly and Carter
are down by the boathouse waiting for me! Please, Grandma!"

So difficult was it for Mrs. Sherwood to resist the child's
pleading tones that her own voice was more stern than she intended
to make it, lest she reveal her true feeling.

"No, Marjorie; you have been very naughty now, and so you must be
punished now. Listen to me. I shall send Jane to tell Carter to go
back to his work and to tell Molly to go home. I'm sorry to spoil
your pleasure, but remember you have really spoiled it yourself."