She came up as the girl was putting on her hat to go home. "Florence," she said, in a rather hesitating voice, "tell mother you're sorry. She'll not be hard on you. Don't be like your poor brother, and throw all your chances away. You _are_ like him, but there's no need to follow in his steps." "If Harry was like me he must have been a deal nicer than George," said Florrie, who knew nothing about her eldest brother's history. "I don't care," she said to herself as she walked home. "I ain't done nothing, and I won't stay to be put upon. If she've gone to father!" The guess was too true. When Florence opened the parlour door, there sat Mrs Lee, her father, and Martha, all looking disturbed and worried. "Oh," said Florence, "if you please, father, I was just coming home to tell you as how I'd rather leave Mrs Lee's shop, as she ain't satisfied with me, and I ain't done nothing at all." "You've taken a great liberty, Florence, as I understand," said her father, "and you will certainly not leave if Mrs Lee is good enough to give you another trial." "If Florence will express herself sorry," said Mrs Lee. "I ain't sorry," said Florence coolly. "And I shall put a stop to your Bible class at once, and forbid you to go out without your sister if I hear of such behaviour as yours on Sunday afternoon." "Martha'd have a time of it," said Florence. "Well, Mr Whittaker," said Mrs Lee, rising, "I know what girls' tempers are, and if Florence has come to a better mind by to-morrow, and will come down and tell me so, I will overlook it this once, but no more." "Bless me, Florrie," said little Ethel, as her father took Mrs Lee out, "what a piece of work to make! It ain't much to say you're sorry and have done with it." "I ain't sorry, and I mean to have done with it. I'm tired of the shop, and I'm tired of the Lees. Mrs Lee's an old cat and Miss Lee's a young one! She ain't so very young neither." "Oh my, Florrie!" repeated Ethel. "What a deal you'll have to say you're sorry for before you've done! For you'll have to say it first or last." "Why?" said Florence. "Why, one always has to." "You'll see." Florence remained stubborn. She did not look passionate or sulky, but say she was sorry she would not. She was tired of the business, and she didn't care for losing her situation. She didn't care at all. "Don't care came to a bad end," said Matty angrily. "Don't care if he did," said Florence. George had come back from his walk by this time, and had added his voice to the family conclave. Now he gave an odd, half-startled look at his father, and to the supreme astonishment of the naughty girl her sally was received in silence. Nobody spoke.