The Merediths sat , crimson with a shame that even Rosemary 's understanding sympathy could not remove . They sneaked off home , met Jerry at the manse gate and made remorseful confession . A session of the Good-Conduct Club was arranged for next morning . `` Was n't Miss West sweet to us to-night ? '' whispered Faith in bed . `` Yes , '' admitted Una . `` It is such a pity it changes people so much to be made stepmothers . '' `` I do n't believe it does , '' said Faith loyally . CHAPTER XXXI . CARL DOES PENANCE `` I do n't see why we should be punished at all , '' said Faith , rather sulkily . `` We did n't do anything wrong . We could n't help being frightened . And it wo n't do father any harm . It was just an accident . '' `` You were cowards , '' said Jerry with judicial scorn , `` and you gave way to your cowardice . That is why you should be punished . Everybody will laugh at you about this , and that is a disgrace to the family . '' `` If you knew how awful the whole thing was , '' said Faith with a shiver , `` you would think we had been punished enough already . I would n't go through it again for anything in the whole world . '' `` I believe you 'd have run yourself if you 'd been there , '' muttered Carl .
`` From an old woman in a cotton sheet , '' mocked XXXXX .
CARL Club Faith Jerry Merediths Rosemary Una XXXI accident to-night