When school came out my sisters went home in different groups , each supposing I was with the other . Instead I had run off with a little girl I had played with at recess . We went to her home , which was near the school , and began making mud pies . We were having a glorious time when my older sister arrived , breathless and angry . '' ` You naughty girl '' she cried , snatching my reluctant hand and dragging me along with her . ` Come home this minute . Oh , you 're going to catch it ! Mother is awful cross . She is going to give you a good whipping . ' `` I had never been whipped . Dread and terror filled my poor little heart . I have never been so miserable in my life as I was on that walk home . I had not meant to be naughty . Phemy Cameron had asked me to go home with her and I had not known it was wrong to go . And now I was to be whipped for it . When we got home my sister dragged me into the kitchen where mother was sitting by the fire in the twilight . My poor wee legs were trembling so that I could hardly stand . And mother -- mother just took me up in her arms , without one word of rebuke or harshness , kissed me and held me close to her heart . ' I was so frightened you were lost , darling , ' she said tenderly . I could see the love shining in her eyes as she looked down on me .
She never scolded or reproached me XXXXX what I had done -- only told me I must never go away again without asking permission .
by for in into of on that to with without