She sprang to her feet with a cry of surprise, but did not approach,
though he held out his arms, saying in a voice husky with anxiety,
'Is the baby well, Sophia?'
'Yes,' she cried, 'quite well; he is out in the carriage with them.'
Then shrinking as he was stooping to kiss her, she reddened,
reddening deeply, 'Papa, I did very wrong; I was sly and disobedient,
and I might have killed him.'
'Do not let us speak of that now, my dear, I want to hear of--' and
again he would have drawn her into his embrace, but she held out her
hand, with her repelling gesture, and burst forth in her rude
honesty, 'I can't be forgiven only because I am ill. Hear all about
it, papa, and then say you forgive me if you can. I always was cross
to mamma, because I was determined I would be; and I did not think
she had any business with us. The more she was kind, the more I did
not like it; and I thought it was mean in Gilbert and Lucy to be fond
of her. No! I have not done yet! I grew naughtier and naughtier,
till at last I have been false and sly, and--have done this to baby--
and I would not have cared then--if--if she would not have been--oh!
so good!'
Sophy made no farther resistance to the arm that was thrown round
her, as her father said, 'So good, that she has overcome evil with
good. My child, how should I not forgive when you are sensible of
your mistake, and when she has so freely forgiven?'
Sophy did not speak, but she pressed his arm closer round her, and
laid her cheek gratefully on his shoulder.
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