"Peace! After Mr. Hartman has been so kind to us! What do you think of a little girl who will do a thing like that!" "At first I thought she was all right," answered the candid maiden. "But now I've changed my mind, and I guess she was pretty bad when she did it. Though he needn't have said what he did to me. He told me we could have the berries." "At the same time he warned you about Mr. Skinner's bull." "Yes, and I warned Mr. Skinflint--I mean Mr. Skinner." "Mr. Skinner is a hot-tempered man, and I am afraid if the Hartmans owe him money, as you say, he will make it very uncomfortable for them." "Maybe I better go see old Skinflint--I mean Mr. Skinner--and tell him--" "No, indeed!" cried Gail in alarm. "You have done damage enough already. Promise me that you won't say anything to him about it, Peace." "I promise. I ain't anxious to see him anyway, only I thought if it would do any good I would go and tell him how it happened. I am awfully sorry now." "Then don't you think you better apologize to Mr. Hartman?" "Wasn't the licking a napology enough?" "The whipping only settled your account. It didn't say you were sorry. And it was wrong to tell him that you hoped he would get his reward in heaven." "Why?" cried Peace in genuine astonishment. "That's what the lame peddler woman always tells you when you buy a paper of needles or pins." "That is different. She means what she says. The words are no idle mockery to her. Every penny she can earn, helps her that much, and she is truly grateful--" "And I am truly grateful for my receipt, too! It isn't every man that would give me one. Old Skinner now--" "Oh, Peace!" "But, Gail, dear, I wasn't mocking him. I wanted him to know that I knew how much that receipt was worth. S'posing he hadn't written it, how would you have known that I had settled that fuss?" Gail gave up in despair. She never could argue with this small sister, who so sadly needed a mother's wisdom to keep her sweet and good; so she abruptly ended her lecture by gently insisting, "Mr. Hartman deserves your apology. What if he had made us pay for the damage you did, or had had you arrested? He was good to let you off with just a licking, Peace, even if you do think it was hard punishment. If you are going to be a bad girl, you must expect whippings." "I don't think he likes me any more. He may chase me home before I can apologize," suggested the unhappy culprit, with hanging head. "I guess not," smiled Gail behind her hand. "Try it and see." "Well," sighed miserable Peace, "I s'pose I must, then."