Всего за 5.99 руб. Купить полную версию
Several of those who even were fond of Miss Forest came round to the conviction that she was really guilty, and one by one, as is the fashion not only among school-girls but in the greater world outside, they began to pick holes in their former favourite. These girls, too, resolved that, if Annie were really so mean as maliciously to injure other girls property and get them into trouble, she must be sent to Coventry.
Whats Coventry? asked one of the little ones, the child whom Annie had kissed and comforted, now sidling up to the group.
Oh, a nasty place, Phena, said Mary Bell,
putting her arm round the pretty child and drawing her to her side.
And who is going there?
Why, I am afraid it is naughty Annie Forest.
Shes not naughty! Annie shant go to any nasty place. I hate you, Mary Bell. The little one looked round the group with flashing eyes of defiance, then wrenched herself away to return to her younger companions.
It was stupid of you to say that, Mary, remarked one of the girls. Well, she continued, I suppose it is all settled, and poor Annie, to say the least of it, is not a lady. For my own part, I always thought her great fun, but if she is proved guilty of this offence I wash my hands of her.
We all wash our hands of her, echoed the girls, with the exception of Susan Drummond, who, as usual, was nodding in her chair.
What do you say, Susy? asked one or two you have not opened your lips all this lime.
I eh? what? asked Susan, stretching herself and yawning, oh, about Annie Forest I suppose you are right, girls. Is not that the tea-gong? Im awfully hungry.
Hester Thornton went into the tea-room that evening feeling particularly virtuous, and with an idea that she had distinguished herself in some way.
Poor foolish, thoughtless Hester, she little guessed what seed she had sown, and what a harvest she was preparing for her own reaping by-and-by.
Chapter Fifteen About Some People Who Thought No Evil
The trouble about Annie had taken place the Wednesday before, and all the girls heads were full of the uncleared-up mystery when Hester started on her little expedition.
Nothing was known; no fresh light had been thrown on the subject. Everything went on as usual within the school, and a casual observer would never have noticed the cloud which rested over that usually happy dwelling. A casual observer would have noticed little or no change in Annie Forest; her merry laugh was still heard, her light step still danced across the play-room floor, she was in her place in class, and was, if anything, a little more attentive and a little more successful over her lessons. Her pretty, piquant face, her arch expression, the bright, quick and droll glance which she alone could give, were still to be seen; but those who knew her well and those who loved her best saw a change in Annie.
In the play-room she devoted herself exclusively to the little ones; she never went near Cecil Temples drawing-room, she never mingled with the girls of the middle school as they clustered round the cheerful fire. At meal-times she ate little, and her room-fellow was heard to declare that she was awakened more than once in the middle of the night by the sound of Annies sobs. In chapel, too, when she fancied herself quite unobserved, her face wore an expression of great pain; but if Mrs Willis happened to glance in her direction, instantly the little mouth became demure and almost hard, the dark eyelashes were lowered over the bright eyes, the whole expression of the face showed the extreme of indifference. Hester felt more sure than ever of Annies guilt; but one or two of the other girls in the school wavered in this opinion, and would have taken Annie out of Coventry had she herself made the smallest advance toward them.
Annie and Hester had not spoken to each other now for several days; but on this afternoon, which was a bright one in early spring, as Hester was changing her school-dress for her Sunday one, and preparing for her visit to the Misses Bruce, there came a light knock at her door. She said Come in, rather impatiently, for she was in a hurry, and dreaded being kept.
To her surprise Annie Forest put in her curly head, and then, dancing with her usual light movement across the room, she laid a little bunch of dainty spring flowers on the dressing-table beside Hester.
Hester stared, first at the intruder and then at the early primroses. She passionately loved flowers, and would have exclaimed with ecstasy at these had anyone brought them in except Annie.
I want you, said Annie, rather timidly for her, to take these flowers from me to Miss Agnes and Miss Jane Bruce. It will be very kind of you if you will take them. I am sorry to have interrupted
you thank you very much.
She was turning away when Hester compelled herself to remark
Is there any message with the flowers?
Oh, no only Annie Forests love. Theyll understand. She turned half round as she spoke, and Hester saw that her eyes had filled with tears. She felt touched in spite of herself. There was something in Annies face now which reminded her of her darling little Nan at home. She had seen the same beseeching, sorrowful look in Nans brown eyes when she had wanted her friends to kiss her and take her to their hearts and love her.