This evening she went out to take them in . She had her knitting in her hands so she hung the sheets over her shoulders by way of carrying them . And then she must have dropped one of her needles and find it she could not and has not yet . But she went down on her knees and crept about to hunt for it , and she was at that when she heard awful yells down in the valley and saw the three children tearing up the hill past her . She thought they had been bit by something and it gave her poor old heart such a turn that she could not move or speak , but just crouched there till they disappeared . Then she staggered back home and they have been applying stimulants to her ever since , and her heart is in a terrible condition and she says she will not get over this fright all summer . '' 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 XXXXX your cowardice .
at by of on over since so that till to