"
"Wear your sun-bonnet to meeting! I'd stay at home first!"
"I wouldn't stay at home first! But I _would_ like a new bonnet, too. I
_would_ go and get it if I thought mother would like it."
"Like it! why, to-be-sure she will! Come along."
With hesitating steps Susie went on. Just before her was the point which
her mother had made the limit of her walk. She felt no desire to disobey
her mother; but the thought of surprising her by bringing home the new
bonnets unexpectedly was quite a temptation. Then it would be so pleasant
to have them, too; she wanted to see how they looked very much indeed. Why
could she not walk very fast and get back soon? She looked at the sun, to
see how much time there would be. It was almost setting; and she
exclaimed,--
"Jane! I can't go! See; it is almost sundown!"
"It will be light for two hours. There is time enough; we can run, and get
back before dark."
"What if I shouldn't get the bonnets after all? What would mother say?"
"You'll get them fast enough; and, even if you don't, you needn't tell her.
She'll never know it! Come along!"
Jane had said _one word too many now_. The frightened child had done the
best thing she could have done. The idea of deceiving her mother had put
the matter in an entirely new light, and she ran homeward, without one word
of reply, as fast as her little feet could carry her.
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