There was not much comfort in that, either. She wished to find some "promise" on which she might dwell and meditate or imagine herself into a state of complacency; but One was dealing with her who would allow no such comfortable self-deception. She was, as it were, set down before the mirror of truth and made to see herself, and that in despite of her will to the contrary. What had she done? She had been envious of another's pleasure and honor, and she had allowed herself to indulge in a slanderous misrepresentation to injure her best friend, because that friend had been accidentally preferred before her. Nor was she allowed to take refuge in the idea that she had been overcome by a sudden and irresistible temptation. She knew better. Her fall had not been sudden, as indeed such falls seldom are. Looking back, she could see that she had been preparing the way for just such a failure. It was true, as Calista said: she had allowed herself to indulge in that envy which eats like a canker. She had not liked to hear any one praised but herself for a long time past. She had done her work in school and at home, not for her Lord and Master, but that she might be seen of men. The same was true of her charitable work among the poor children whom she taught and helped to clothe. She had been provoked downright when Mrs. Lee showed her the pretty and useful little dress which Belle Adair had made out of one of her own for poor Chloe Jackson's youngest girl, and she turned scarlet as she remembered how she had taken occasion to say that Belle was a very gay girl who would never listen to a serious word. And now she had wounded Calista to the heart, and disgraced herself in the eyes of her teacher and herself, all for what? Because Calista had been asked to do, and had done well, something which she did not like, and never undertook willingly. Calista had been praised, that was enough. "Oh, what shall I do! What shall I do!" said Mary, almost aloud, and with bitter tears of grief and self-abasement. She opened her Bible and read again: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works." (Rev. 2:5.) And again: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8, 9.) Clearly this was the right and only way to peace. Mary knelt down and then and there confessed this her besetting sin, asked for deliverance and forgiveness, and that cleansing promised to all who seek it. She did not deceive herself now, but called things by right, plain Bible names—envy, emulation, slander, detraction.