mind the rash words that had cost her so many repentant tears, she
replied meekly, "I am sorry I did not succeed better this morning,
Miss Day, though I did really try; and I am still more sorry for
the saucy answer I gave you; and I ask your pardon for it."

"You _ought_ to be sorry," replied Miss Day, severely, "and I
hope you are; for it was a very impertinent speech indeed, and
deserving of a much more severe punishment than you received. Now
go, and never let me hear anything of the kind from you again."

Poor little Elsie's eyes filled with tears at these ungracious
words, accompanied by a still more ungracious manner; but she
turned away without a word, and placing her books and slate
carefully in her desk, left the room.

Rose Allison was sitting alone in her room that evening, thinking
of her far-distant home, when hearing a gentle rap at her door,
she rose and opened it to find Elsie standing there with her
little Bible in her hand.

"Come in, darling," she said, stooping to give the little one a
kiss; "I am very glad to see you."

"I may stay with you for half an hour, Miss Allison, if you like,"
said the child, seating herself on the low ottoman pointed out by
Rose, "and then mammy is coming to put me to bed."

"It will be a very pleasant half-hour to both of us, I hope,"
replied Rose, opening her Bible.