"I expect the Bible will tell you how to punish. I remember a man who picked up sticks on Sunday--he was stoned dead; and Elisha's servant was made a leper, and some children were killed by a bear, and a prophet by a lion, and Annas and Sophia were struck dead. All of them were punished 'most severely,' weren't they? If you forgave me a little bit, and left out the 'most severely,' it would make it easier, I expect." "Perhaps I might do that," said poor Sir Edward, who by this time longed to dispense with the punishment altogether; "as it was only a flower-pot, I will leave out the 'most severely.'" Milly's face brightened. "I think," she said, coming up to him and laying one hand on his knee--"I think if I were to go to bed instead of coming down to dessert with you this evening, that would punish me; don't you think so?" "Very well, that will do. Now run away, and let this be your last breakage. I cannot be worried with your punishments." "I will try to be very good, nurse, always," said Milly while being tucked up in bed that night, "because Uncle Edward is very puzzled when he has to punish me. He doesn't know what to do. He looked quite unhappy and said it worried him." And Sir Edward as he finished his dinner in silence and solitude muttered to himself,-- "That child is certainly a great nuisance at times, but, upon my word, I quite miss her this evening. Children after all are original, if they are nothing else, and she is one of the most original that I have ever met." It was Sunday morning, and Sir Edward was just starting for church. As he stood over the blazing fire in the hall buttoning a glove, a little voice came to him from the staircase: "Uncle Edward, may I come down and speak to you?" Permission being given, Milly danced down the stairs, and then, slipping her little hand into her uncle's, she lifted a coaxing face to his. "Will you take me to church with you? Nurse thinks I'm almost big enough now, and I have been to church in the afternoon sometimes." Sir Edward hesitated. "If you come, you will fidget, I expect. I cannot stand that." "I will sit as still as a mouse. I won't fidget." "If you behave badly I shall never take you again. Yes, you may come. Be quick and get ready." A few moments after, Sir Edward and his little niece were walking down the avenue, she clasping a large Bible under her arm, and trying in vain to match her steps with his. The squire's pew was one of the old-fashioned high ones, and Milly's head did not reach the top of it. Very quiet and silent she was during the service, and very particular to follow her uncle's example in every respect, though she nearly upset his gravity at the outset by taking off her hat in imitation of him and covering her face with it. But when the sermon commenced her large dark eyes were riveted on the clergyman as he gave out the text so well known to her:--