In the evening came the promised confession; and both Mammy and Jane were rendered almost dumb by these dreadful instances of depravity.  Such secret and unsuspected visits to the store-room pantry—­such conspiracies against locks and bolts—­such scaling of walls, and climbing in at windows, were never heard of before.  I rather suspected Fred to have drawn upon his imagination for instances of the marvellous, for such adventures as he related never could have been met with; but Mammy and Jane believed it all.  At the conclusion, the old nurse seemed very much disposed to punish us at once for all these united misdemeanors—­and was only prevented by our remonstrating upon the plea of a voluntary confession.

That night I lay awake, pretending to sleep, and heard Mammy and her satellite discussing our conduct in all its enormity.  Considerably influenced by their unaffected horror and astonishment, the thought for the first time rushed upon my mind, that perhaps I might be much worse than other people.  It troubled me considerably; I found it impossible to sleep, and following a good impulse, I crept softly out of bed, and falling on my knees before Mammy, whispered to her to pray for me.  There must have been a very different expression on my countenance from its usual one; for I afterwards heard the old nurse tell Jane that I reminded her of an angel.  I felt utterly miserable; and sobbing convulsively, I begged Mammy to pray, not that I might have a new heart, but that I might live a great while.  I had begun to fear speedy punishment for my misdemeanors.  The old nurse, (although a really pious woman), seemed quite at a loss how to proceed; and Jane, coming forward, took me kindly by the hand, and reasoned with me on my conduct with all the wisdom of riper years and a higher education.  After convincing me that I should ask, not for an increased number of years, but for a new heart and temper, she knelt down with me and repeated the Lord’s prayer.

The scene is indelibly impressed upon my memory; for although I have since witnessed scenes containing more stage effect, and quite as melting, I never in my life remember to have been so affected as, with Jane’s arm around me, and the light of the nursery-lamp shining upon our kneeling figures, I distinctly heard Mammy’s sobs, as she repeated each word with a peculiar intonation of reverence.  I felt a respect for the young girl ever afterwards; and as I clasped my arms about her neck and pressed a warm kiss on her cheek, as I bade her good-night, the tone of my voice must have been unusually tender—­for I saw tears come into her eyes as she asked Mammy if she was not afraid, from my flushed cheeks, that I had some fever.  Although petulant, and even violent when roused, I had a warm, loving heart, capable of the most unbounded affection; and from that time forth Jane and I never had a single dispute.  She had appeared to me in a new light on that Sabbath eve; and with my hand locked in hers, I fell into a sweet, dreamy sleep.