Isn't there something in
the Bible about its being acceptable with God, if we do well and suffer
for it?'

'Yes; but I'm not suffering because I've done well, but because I'm
supposed to have done ill,' said Cecil gloomily. 'There's no good
talking, Jessie; you'd better go to bed.'

'Perhaps I had,' said Jessie, a sudden thought striking her as she heard
her father's voice in the passage below; 'but I can't bear to leave you,
Cecil. I am so sorry, and I do love you so!'

He half returned her tender, sorrowful hug; and then she ran away, but
not straight to her own room. She darted down one flight of stairs, and
caught hold of her father, who had come in from the practice, and had
been washing his hands before going to supper.

'Father,' she said breathlessly, 'please let me say it: Cecil _has_ been
working--he has indeed. Oh, I am sure you would believe it if you had
heard what he said to me just now!'

Mr. Cunningham did not draw himself away from the detaining clasp, but
he said gravely, 'I quite believe that Cecil does not think he has been
so very idle, but he admits that he has not done his best, and I hope
in a little while he will see all his fault, and be sorry for it. Don't
let him talk to you any more to-night.'

'But don't you think there may have been some mistake?'

'No, indeed,' he answered in a surprised tone, which showed that no such
supposition had ever entered his head.

Then, as she still lingered, he stooped to kiss her, and said kindly,
'Don't try to comfort Cecil with such an idea as that, my child, but see
if you can encourage him to do his best for the future.'

'And--father,' she said timidly, 'is he really only to have a week's
holiday?'

'Yes,' said Mr. Cunningham in his most decided tone; then more gently he
added, 'I am afraid that is punishing you as well as him, but it can't
be helped; and as he is only going to a day school, you will not lose
him entirely.'

Remembering the adjectives Cecil had heaped upon the day school, Jessie
could not feel this to be quite consolatory; but she only said
'Good-night, father,' and held up her face for another kiss, which was
given very tenderly.

Poor little girl! there was a great deal of grief and perplexity in her
heart that night; but the comfort was, that though she so pitied Cecil,
she did not distrust the goodness of either the heavenly or the earthly
father. She could not see the why and wherefore of it all; but when she
had sa