They are all locked up again now, mamma, and I don't think anybody will touch them any more." A little tender, serious talk on the sin and danger of disobedience to parents, and the mother knelt with her child, and in a few simple words asked God's forgiveness for her.

Then telling Vi she must remain alone in that room till bedtime, she left her.
Not one harsh or angry word had been spoken, and the young heart was full of a passionate love to her mother that made the thought of having grieved her a far bitterer punishment than the enforced solitude, though that was at any time irksome enough to one of Vi's social, fun-loving temperament.
It cost the mother a pang to inflict the punishment and leave the darling alone in her trouble; but Elsie was not one to weakly yield to inclination when it came in conflict with duty.

Hers was not a selfish love; she would bear any present pain to secure the future welfare of her children.
She rejoined her friends in the drawing-room apparently as serenely happy as her wont, but through all the afternoon and evening her heart was with her little one in her banishment and grief, yearning over her with tenderest mother love.
Little Elsie, too, missed her sister, and returning from her walk, went in search of her.

She found her at last in their mamma's dressing-room seated at the window, her cheek resting on her hand, the tears coursing slowly down, while her eyes gazed longingly out over the beautiful fields and lovely orange groves.
"Oh my own Vi, my darling little sister! what's the matter ?" asked Elsie, clasping her in her arms, and kissing the wet cheek.
A burst of bitter sobs, while the small arms clung about the sister's neck, and the golden head rested for an instant on her shoulder, then the words, "Ah I'd tell you, but I can't now, for you must run right away, because mamma said I must stay here all alone till bedtime." "Then I must go, pet; but don't cry so: if you've been naughty and are sorry, Jesus, and mamma too, will forgive you and love you just the same," Elsie said, kissing her again, then releasing her, hurried from the room, crying heartily in sympathy.
On the upper veranda, whither she went to recover her composure, before rejoining her mates, she found her mother pacing slowly to and fro.
"Is my Elsie in trouble, too ?" Mrs.Travilla asked, pausing in her walk and holding out her hand.
"For my Vi, mamma," sobbed Elsie, taking the hand and pressing it to her lips.
"Yes, poor little pet! mother's heart aches for her too," Mrs.Travilla answered, her own eyes filling.

"I am glad my little daughters love and sympathize with each other." "Mamma, I would rather stay with Vi, than be with the others.