Meade L. T. - A World of Girls: The Story of a School стр 22.

Mrs Willis put her hand on Cecils shoulder.

Ordinary punishments are not likely to affect you, Cecil, she said; on you I have no idea of inflicting extra lessons, or depriving you of half-holidays, or even taking away your drawing-room. But there is something else you must lose, and that I know will touch you deeply I must remove from you my confidence.

Cecils face grew very pale.

And your love, too? she said, looking up with imploring eyes: oh, surely not your love as well?

I ask you frankly, Cecil, replied Mrs Willis, can perfect love exist without perfect confidence? I would not willingly deprive you of my love, but of necessity the love I have hitherto felt for you must be altered in short, the old love which enabled me to rest on you and trust you, will cease.

Cecil covered her face with her hands.

This punishment is very cruel, she said. You are right; it reaches down to my very heart. But, she added, looking up with a strong and sweet light in her face, I will try and bear it, and some day you will understand.

Listen, Cecil, said Mrs Willis, you have just told me you have prayed to God, and have asked Him to show you the right path. Now, my dear, suppose we kneel together, and both of us ask Him to show us the way out of this difficult matter. I want to be guided to use the right words with you, Cecil. You want to be guided to receive the instruction which I, as your teacher and mother-friend, would give you.

Cecil and Mrs Willis both knelt down, and the head-mistress said a few words in a voice of great earnestness and entreaty; then they resumed their seats.

Now, Cecil, said Mrs Willis, you must remember in listening to me that I am speaking to you as I believe God wishes me to. If I can convince you that you are doing wrong in concealing what you know from me, will you act as I wish in the matter?

I long to be convinced, said Cecil, in a low tone.

That is right, my dear; I can now speak to you with perfect freedom. My words you will remember, Cecil, are now, I firmly believe, directed by God; they are also the result of a large experience. I have trained many girls. I have watched the phases of thought in many young minds. Cecil, look at me. I can read you like a book.

Cecil looked up expectantly.

Your motive for this concealment is as clear as the daylight, Cecil. You are keeping back what you know because you want to shield some one. Am I not right, my dear? The colour flooded Cecils pale face. She bent her head in silent assent, but her eyes were too full of tears, and her lips trembled too much to allow her to speak.

The girl you want to defend, continued Mrs Willis, in that clear patient voice of hers, is one whom you and I both love; is one for whom we both have prayed; is one for whom we would both gladly sacrifice ourselves if necessary her name is

Oh, dont, said Cecil imploringly dont say her name; you have no right to suspect her.

I must say her name, Cecil dear. If you suspect Annie Forest, why should not I? You do suspect her, do you not, Cecil?

Cecil began to cry.

I know it, continued Mrs Willis. Now, Cecil, we will suppose, terrible as this suspicion is, fearfully as it pains us both, that Annie Forest is guilty. We must suppose for the sake of my argument that this is the case. Do you not know, my dear Cecil, that you are doing the falsest, cruellest thing by dear Annie in trying to hide her sin from me? Suppose, just for the sake of our argument, that this cowardly conduct on Annies part was never found out by me; what effect would it have on Annie herself?

It would save her in the eyes of the school, said Cecil.

Just so, but God would know the truth. Her next downfall would be deeper. In short, Cecil, under the idea of friendship you would have done the cruellest thing in all the world for your friend.

Cecil was quite silent.

This is one way to look at it, continued Mrs Willis, but there are many other points from which this case ought to be viewed. You owe much to Annie, but not all you have a duty to perform to your other school-fellows. You have a duty to perform to me. If you possess a clue which will enable me to convict Annie Forest of her sin, in common justice you have no right to withhold it. Remember that while she goes about free and unsuspected some other girl is under the ban some other girl is watched and feared. You fail in your duty to your school-fellows when you keep back your knowledge, Cecil. When you refuse to trust me, you fail in your duty to your mistress; for I cannot

stamp out this evil and wicked thing from our midst unless I know all. When you conceal your knowledge, you ruin the character of the girl you seek to shield. When you conceal your knowledge, you go against Gods express wish. There I have spoken to you as He directed me to speak.

Cecil suddenly sprang to her feet.

I never thought of all these things, she said. You are right, but it is very hard, and mine is only a suspicion. Oh, do be tender to her, and forgive me may I go away now?