Nelly ran off with a heart so much lighter, that she did not mind even the box on the ear which she received on her return for being out “idling about,” instead of lighting the fire for the breakfast.  She felt she had deserved much more than that, and she contentedly accepted it as a slight punishment for her wrongdoing.

That day, when Mrs. Connor was working at Mr. Raymond’s, Mrs. Steele, showing her the frock which was now completed, told her it was to be given to Nelly on condition of her being allowed to go to the picnic.  Mrs. Connor of course grumbled a good deal about the inconvenience of having to spare Nelly for a whole afternoon, but the frock tempted her; and reflecting that the opportune arrival of this frock would do away with any necessity for getting Nelly a new one for a long time to come, she ungraciously gave her consent that she should go.

When Nelly came that evening for her lesson, Lucy gladly informed her that she was to be allowed to go to the picnic, and presented her with the frock which had been provided for her.  Lucy was prepared for her look of surprise, but not so for her covering her face with her hands and bursting into tears.  With some trouble she drew from her a confused account of the cause of her trouble—­the sin she had been led into, and which touched her generous nature all the more now that the frock she had been wishing for was so opportunely provided.

Lucy was at first somewhat shocked that Kelly had been capable of taking such a liberty with what was not her own, not being able to realize the strength of such a temptation to a child whose possessions were so few; and she privately resolved not to tell Stella, who would scarcely have thought how nobly she overcame the temptation.

However, she commended and encouraged Nelly, and told her always to resort to the same sure Helper in time of temptation, and to do it in the first place.  “And Jesus is always ready to hear and help you,” she added.

“An’ it was Him told you to give me the frock too, wasn’t it?  And I’m rightly thankful to Him, and you too, Miss Lucy.”

And Nelly carried home her new acquisition, with very different feelings from those with which she had taken the frock she had coveted.

“How glad I am I thought of getting it ready for her!” thought Lucy as she watched her depart, her own heart full of the pleasure of doing a much-needed kindness,—­the only drawback being her regret that Nelly had not a new hat likewise.

The much-watched-for day on which the picnic was to be held turned out as fine as the most eager young hearts could desire, notwithstanding one or two slight showers that fell in the early morning.  But these only cleared the air and laid the dust, and made the foliage so fresh and glistening that its early summer beauty seemed for a time revived.