“Oh, don’t trouble yourself; I can do without your company.”  And off she ran, before Bessie could say any more.

Bessie felt sorry at having vexed Nancy, and thought a little wistfully of the afternoon’s pleasure that she might have had.  But she felt satisfied that she had done right, and felt thankful that she had had strength given to resist a temptation to which she now felt she would have done very wrong to yield.  So she went back to her shady seat with a light heart, and stitched away diligently, not repining although she heard the merry voices of the party, borne to her from the river.

As her mother had not returned by the time her task was completed, she went in and got tea ready; and then calling up two of the gentlest cows, she had milked them by the time Mrs. Ford appeared, tired and dusty from her long walk.  Her pleased surprise at Bessie’s thoughtful industry in getting through so much of the work which she thought was still before her, was in itself sufficient reward for the self-denial; and Bessie felt what a shame it would have been if her mother, fatigued as she was, had had everything to do on her return, while she was away on a pleasure-party.

Of course Mrs. Ford was soon informed of Nancy’s visit and invitation.  “Oh, my child!” she exclaimed, “I am so glad you refused to go.  Mrs. Thompson, in the village, was just telling me about these cousins of Nancy’s, and says they are the wildest set in Burford, and that their society wouldn’t do Nancy any good.  So, if you had gone, I should have been very sorry.  I’m so glad you didn’t!”

How glad Bessie was that she had been enabled to resist the temptation!  But she felt she could not take the credit to herself; so she said: 

“I had the greatest mind to go, mother, but something told me I shouldn’t, just as I was almost going.”

“Well, it’s all the same to me, as you didn’t go.  And you were a real good girl, Bessie, to stay!”

What a safeguard is a definite duty conscientiously pursued!  If Bessie had not had her task of sewing to finish, with the feeling that it was her duty to do it, she might have been more easily led away against her better judgment.

Nelly Connor had had her temptation, too, the same evening.  Her mother had sent her to take home some clothes she had been washing; and as Nelly was carrying the basket, she noticed a pretty pink printed frock lying on the top, which looked as if it would exactly fit her.  How nice it would be, she thought, if she had such a frock to wear to the picnic!  Then came one of the evil suggestions which the tempter is so ready to put into the heart:  what if she should keep it till the picnic was over, and wear it just that once?  She could hide it, and put it on somewhere out of her stepmother’s sight; and then, perhaps, if she were dressed so nicely, some of the other little girls might be willing to play with her; for the poor child felt her isolated position.