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Page 34
Her heart sank, not so much because of the mud on the steps as
because of this new proof of Marjorie's thoughtlessness.
"My dear little girl!" she said, as Marjorie reached the top step,
and in a flash Marjorie realized what she had done.
Crestfallen and horrified, she threw herself into her
grandmother's arms.
"I'm sorry, Midget dear, but I cannot break my word. You know what
I told you."
"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."
Marjorie did not cry, she was not that sort of a child. But she
had a broken-down, wilted air, the very despondency of which
almost made her grandmother relent. Had it been a more important
occasion she might have done so, but the children could go on the
river any day, and though it was a very real disappointment to
Marjorie to stay at home, yet discipline required it.
"Now, Marjorie," went on Mrs. Sherwood, after Jane had been
despatched on her errand, "take off those muddy shoes and set them
on the top step of the stairs."
Rather wondering at this command, Marjorie sat down on the top
step, unlaced her shoes, and did with them as she had been bidden.
"Now, this is your punishment, my child; you came up these stairs
when you had been told not to do so: now you may spend the rest of
the day on the stairs. You are not to leave them until six o'clock
to-night. With the muddy steps and your muddy shoes in front of
your eyes all day long, you may, perhaps, learn to remember better
in future."
Marjorie could scarcely believe her ears. To stay on the stairs
all day long seemed a funny punishment; and except for missing the
row on the river, it did not seem a very hard one.
"May I have a book, Grandma," she asked, still a little bewildered
by the outlook.
Grandma considered. "Yes," she said at last; "you may go to your
room, put on your worsted bedroom slippers, and then you may bring
back with you any books or toys you care for."
"How many?" asked Marjorie, whose spirits were rising, for her
punishment seemed to promise a novel experience.
"As many as you can carry at once," replied Grandma, turning aside
to hide a smile.
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