Part 49 (2/2)

”Oh mother! and what did she say?”

”My darling, I am afraid you will be terribly grieved; I can scarcely tell you how upset I am. Audrey, the strongest, the very strongest, circ.u.mstantial evidence points to Evelyn as the guilty person.”

”Oh mother! Evelyn! But why? Oh, surely, surely whoever accuses poor Evelyn is mistaken!”

”I agreed with you, Audrey; I felt just as indignant as you do when first I heard what Miss Henderson told me; but the more I see of Evelyn the more sure I am that she would be capable of this action, that if the opportunity came she would do this cruel and unjustifiable wrong, and after having done it the unhappy child would try to conceal it.”

”But, mother darling, what motive could she have?”

”Well, dear, let me tell you. Miss Henderson seems to be well aware of the entire story. On the first day when Evelyn went to school she was asked during cla.s.s to read over the reign of Edward I. in the history of England. Evelyn, in her usual pert way which we all know so well, declared that she knew the reign, and while the other girls in her form were busy with their lessons she amused herself looking about her. As it was the first day, Miss Thompson took no notice; but when the girls went into the playground for recess she called Evelyn to her and questioned her with regard to the history. Evelyn's wicked lie was immediately manifest, for she did not know a single word about the reign. Miss Thompson was naturally angry, and desired her to stay in the schoolroom and learn the reign while the other girls were at play. Evelyn was angry, but could not resist. About six o'clock that evening Miss Thompson came into the schoolroom, found Ruskin's _Sesame and Lilies_, which she had left there that morning, and took it away with her. She was preparing a lecture out of the book, and did not open it at once.

When she did so she perceived, to her horror, that some pages had been torn out. You know, my dear, what followed. You know what a strained and unhappy condition the school is now in.”

”Oh yes, mother-yes, I know all that; the only part that is new to me is that Evelyn was kept indoors to learn her history.”

”Yes, dear, and that supplies the motive; not to one like you, my Audrey, but to such a perverted, such an unhappy and ignorant child as poor Evelyn, one who has never learnt self-control, one whose pa.s.sions are ever in the ascendency.”

”Oh, poor Evelyn, poor Evelyn!” said Audrey. ”But still, mother-still--Oh, I am sure she never did it! She has denied it, mother; whatever she is, she is not a coward. She might have done it in a fit of rage; but if she did she would confess. Why should she wreak her anger on Miss Henderson? Oh, mother darling, there is nothing proved against her!”

”Wait, Audrey; I have not finished my story. Two days pa.s.sed before Miss Thompson needed to open the history-book which Evelyn had been using; when she did, she found, lying in the pages which commenced the reign of Edward I., some sc.r.a.ps of torn paper, all too evidently torn out of _Sesame and Lilies_.

”Mother!”

”It is true, Audrey.”

”Who told you this?”

”Miss Henderson.”

”Does Miss Henderson believe that Evelyn is guilty?”

”Yes; and so do I.”

”Mother, mother, what will happen?”

”Who knows? But Miss Henderson is determined-and, yes, my dear, I must say I agree with her-she is determined to expose Evelyn; she said she would give her a week in which to repent.”

”And that week will be up the day after to-morrow,” said Audrey.

”Yes, Audrey-yes; there is only to-morrow left.”

”Oh mother, how can I bear it?”

”My poor child, it will be dreadful for you.”

”Oh mother, why did she come here? I could almost hate her! And yet-no, I do not hate her-no, I do not; I pity her.”

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