Meade L. T. - A World of Girls: The Story of a School стр 24.

Cecil dried her eyes quickly.

You know my pet copy of Mrs Brownings poems, dont you, Annie?

Oh, yes, of course. You lent it to me one day. Dont you remember how you made me cry over that picture of little Alice, the over-worked factory girl? What about the book, Cecil?

I found the book in my desk, said Cecil, in a steady tone, and now fixing her eyes on Annie, who knelt by her side I found the book in my desk, although I never keep it there; for it is quite against the rules to keep our recreation books in our school-desks, and you know, Annie, I always think it is so much easier to keep these little rules. They are matters of duty and conscience after all. I found my copy of Mrs Browning in my desk this morning with the cover torn off, and with a very painful and ludicrous caricature of our dear Mrs Willis sketched on the title-page.

What? said Annie. No, no; impossible.

You know nothing about it do you, Annie?

I never put it there, if thats what you mean, said Annie. But her face had undergone a curious change. Her light and easy and laughing manner had altered. When Cecil mentioned the caricature she flushed a vivid crimson. Her flush had quickly died away, leaving her olive-tinted face paler than its wont.

I see, she said, after a long pause, you, too, suspected me, Cecil, and that is why you tried to conceal the thing. You know that I am the only girl in the school who can draw caricatures, but did you suppose that I would show her dishonour? Of course things look ugly for me, if this is what you found in your book; but I did not think that you would suspect me, Cecil.

I will believe you, Annie, said Cecil eagerly. I long beyond words to believe you. With all your faults, no one has ever yet found you out in a lie. If you look at me, Annie, and tell me honestly that you know nothing whatever about that caricature, I will believe you. Yes, I will believe you fully, and I will go with you to Mrs Willis and tell her that, whoever did the wrong, you are innocent in this matter. Say you know nothing about it, dear, dear Annie, and take a load off my heart.

I never put the caricature into your book, Cecil.

And you know nothing about it?

I cannot say that; I never never put it in your book.

Oh, Annie, exclaimed poor Cecil, you are trying to deceive me. Why wont you be brave? Oh, Annie, I never thought you would stoop to a lie!

Im telling no lie, answered Annie with sudden passion. I do know something about the caricature, but I never put it into that book. There!

you doubt me, you have ceased to believe me, and I wont waste any more words on the matter.

Chapter Fourteen Sent To Coventry.

It is strange that such a girl as Annie should have enemies, but she had, and in the last few weeks the feeling of jealousy and envy which had always been smouldering in some breasts took more active form. Two reasons accounted for this: Hesters openly avowed and persistent dislike to Annie, and Miss Russells declared conviction that she was underbred and not a lady.

Miss Russell was the only girl in the first-class who had hitherto given wild little Annie a thought.

In the first-class, to-day, Annie had to act the unpleasing part of the wicked little heroine. Miss Russell was quite certain of Annies guilt; she and her companions condescended to discuss poor Annie and to pull all her little virtues to pieces, and to magnify her sins to an alarming extent.

After two or three hours of judicious conversation, Dora Russell and most of the other first-class girls decided that Annie ought to be expelled, and unanimously resolved that they at least, would do what they could to send her to Coventry.

In the lower part of the school Annie also had a few enemies, and these girls, having carefully observed Hesters attitude toward her, now came up close to this dignified little lady, and asked her boldly to declare her opinion with regard to Annies guilt.

Hester, without the least hesitation, assured them that of course Annie had done it.

There is not room for a single doubt on the subject, she said; there look at her now.

At this instant Annie was leaving Cecils compartment, and with red eyes, and hair, as usual, falling about her face, was running out of the play-room. She seemed in great distress; but, nevertheless, before she reached the door, she stopped to pick up a little girl of five, who was fretting about some small annoyance. Annie took the little one in her arms, kissed her tenderly, whispered some words in her ear, which caused the little face to light up with some smiles and the round arms to clasp Annie with an ecstatic hug. She dropped the child, who ran back to play merrily with her companions, and left the room.

The group of middle-class girls still sat on by the fire, but Hester Thornton now, not Annie, was the centre of attraction. It was the first time in all her young life that Hester had found herself in the enviable position of a favourite; and without at all knowing what mischief she was doing, she could not resist improving the occasion, and making the most of her dislike for Annie.