"I know you did, my daughter; but 'saying' is one thing, and 'doing' another. However, I am willing you should make the trial, on two or three conditions." "I hate conditions," said Hetty, aside, and in a low voice. "On two or three conditions," continued her mother. "First, you shall knit them all yourself." "Of course! I wouldn't have any one else touch them for the world!" "Secondly, you shall not neglect your practising, nor any other of your ordinary duties. "Thirdly, you shall go and put away all your school-things neatly, and then wait patiently till Cecy has had her luncheon and Peter is ready to carry her out. Then I will go down with you and buy the yarn." "Why can't I go and buy it now, mother?" "Because, my dear, you know nothing about yarn, and you might get what was very unsuitable to the purpose. Now begin by putting away your books, dress yourself neatly, and mend that hole in your glove." Hetty pouted, and murmured something to herself; but she saw that her mother was decided, and, gathering up her things, she withdrew to her own room. Little Cecy's large gray eyes had wandered wonderingly from her mother's face to her sister's during this dialogue, but she had not said a word. Now, however, that Hetty was out of the way, she asked, in her slow, hesitating manner,— "What does Hetty mean, mother?" "Hetty wants to knit some warm socks for the soldiers, my dear. You know winter is coming soon, and the poor soldiers' feet will be very cold, unless they have warm woollen stockings to wear under their boots: so a great many ladies are knitting socks to send them. You recollect I told you that all the soldiers were going to the South to fight the rebels. Don't you remember how Cousin Charles came to bid you good-by and show you his uniform and sword?" "I remember," said Cecy. "But, mother, if the rebels want to go away and have a country by themselves, why don't they let them? It would be a great deal less trouble." "Cecy," said her mother, "do you remember when we were down on the beach last summer, how little Cousin Harry wanted to sit out on the rock and watch the ships?" "Oh, yes; and aunt would not let him. She called him, and he would not come, and when she went to lead him away, he lay down on the sand and kicked it up and screamed. Then aunt sent for Peter to take him up in his arms and carry him in." "Why did not aunt let Harry stay out on the rock as long as he pleased? It would have been a great deal less trouble." Cecy opened her eyes wide. "Why, mother, he would have been drowned, because the waves came up all over the rock that day. We could hardly see where it was. It was one of the days when the water came up high."