It soon came loose , and , gathering it up , Nan was about to get out of the window , when she heard Mrs. Jo say to somebody as she passed through the hall , `` No , I do n't think she will run away now ; she is an honorable little girl , and knows that I do it to help her . '' In a minute , Nan whisked back , tied herself up , and began to sew violently . Rob came in a moment after , and was so charmed with the new punishment , that he got a jump-rope and tethered himself to the other arm of the sofa in the most social manner . `` I got lost too , so I ought to be tied up as much as Nan , '' he explained to his mother when she saw the new captive . `` I 'm not sure that you do n't deserve a little punishment , for you knew it was wrong to go far away from the rest . '' `` Nan took me , '' began Rob , willing to enjoy the novel penalty , but not willing to take the blame . `` You need n't have gone . You have got a conscience , though you are a little boy , and you must learn to mind it . '' `` Well , my conscience did n't prick me a bit when she said ` Let 's get over the wall , ' '' answered Rob , quoting one of Demi 's expressions . `` Did you stop to see if it did ? '' `` No . '' `` Then you can not tell . '' `` I guess it 's such a little conscience that it do n't prick hard enough for me to feel it , '' added Rob , after thinking the matter over for a minute . `` We must sharpen it up . It 's bad to have a dull conscience ; so you may stay here till dinner-time , and talk about it with Nan . I trust you both not to untie yourselves till I say the word . '' `` No , we wo n't , '' said both , feeling a certain sense of virtue in helping to punish themselves . For an hour they were very good , then they grew tired of one room , and longed to get out . Never had the hall seemed so inviting ; even the little bedroom acquired a sudden interest , and they would gladly have gone in and played tent with the curtains of the best bed . The open windows drove them wild because they could not reach them ; and the outer world seemed so beautiful , they wondered how they ever found the heart to say it was dull .
Nan pined for a race round the lawn , and XXXXX remembered with dismay that he had not fed his dog that morning , and wondered what poor Pollux would do .
Demi Jo Nan Rob bedroom dinner-time expressions hour jump-rope minute