"Haven't we forbidden you?
And didn't you promise me that if I'd let you go to the front door, you would stay there ?" "I couldn't help it, mother," replied Andrew.
"Oh, yes, you could." "Indeed I couldn't, mother.

I saw Emily, and then I couldn't help it." There was an expression in the child's voice as he said this, that thrilled the feelings of his mother.

She felt that he spoke only the simple truth--that he could not help doing as he had done.
"But Andrew must help it," she was constrained to reply.

"Mother can't let him go to the front door again." "You won't tell father, will you ?" urged the child, lifting, earnestly, his large, bright, innocent eyes to his mother's face.
"Say, you won't tell him ?" Grieved, perplexed, and troubled, Mrs.Howland knew not what to say, nor how to act.
"Dear mother!" urged the boy, "you won't tell father?
Say you won't ?" And tears began to glisten beneath his eyelids.
"Andrew has been disobedient," said the mother, trying to assume an offended tone.

"Will he be so anymore ?" "If you won't tell father, I'll be good." The mother sighed, and fixed her gaze musingly on the floor.