Meade L. T. - A World of Girls: The Story of a School стр 28.

I have always been told, Annie, Mrs Willis said, that you are the only girl in the school who can draw these caricatures. You have never seen an attempt at this kind of drawing amongst your school-fellows, or amongst any of the teachers?

I have never seen any of them try this special kind of drawing, I said. I wish I was like them. I wish I had never, never done it.

You have got your keys now? Mrs Willis said.

Yes, I answered, pulling them all covered with rust out of my pocket.

Then she told me to leave the keys on the table, and to go upstairs and fetch down my little private desk.

I did so, and she made me put the rusty key in the lock and open the desk, and together we searched through its contents.

We pulled out everything, or rather I did, and I scattered all my possessions about on the table, and then I looked up almost triumphantly at Mrs Willis.

You see the caricature is not here, I said, somebody picked the lock and took it away.

This lock has not been picked, Mrs Willis said, and what is that little piece of white paper sticking out of the private drawer?

Oh, I forgot my private drawer, I said; but there is nothing in it nothing whatever, and then I touched the spring, and pulled it open, and there lay the little caricature which I had drawn in the bottom of the drawer. There it lay, not as I had left it, for I had never put it into the private drawer. I saw Mrs Williss face turn very white, and I noticed that her hands trembled. I was all red myself, and very hot, and there was a choking lump in my throat, and I could not have got a single word out even if I had wished to. So I began scrambling the things back into my desk, as hard as ever I could, and then I locked it, and put the rusty keys back in my pocket.

What am I to believe now, Annie? Mrs Willis said.

Believe anything you like now, I managed to say; and then I took my desk and walked out of the room, and would not wait even though she called me back.

That is the whole story, Mr Everard, continued Annie. I have no explanation whatever to give. I did make the one caricature of my dear governess. I did not make the other. The second caricature is certainly a copy of the first, but I did not make it. I dont know who made it. I have no light whatever to throw on the subject. You see after all, added Annie Forest, raising her eyes to the clergymans face, it is impossible for you to believe me. Mrs Willis does not believe me, and you cannot be expected to. I dont suppose you are to be blamed. I dont see how you can help yourself.

The circumstantial evidence is very strong against you, Annie, replied the clergyman; still, I promised to believe, and I have no intention of going back from my word. If, in the presence of God in this little church you would willingly and deliberately tell me a lie I should never trust human being again. No, Annie Forest, you have many faults, but you are not a liar. I see the impress of truth on your brow, in your eyes, on your lips. This is a very gainful mystery, my child; but I believe you. I am going to see Mrs Willis now. God bless you, Annie. Be brave, be courageous, dont foster malice in your heart to any unknown enemy. An enemy has truly done this thing, poor child; but God Himself will bring this mystery to light. Trust Him, my dear; and now I am going to see Mrs Willis.

While Mr Everard was speaking, Annies whole expressive face had changed; the sullen look had left it; the eyes were bright with renewed hope; the lips had parted in smiles. There was a struggle for speech, but no words came; the young girl stooped down and raised the old clergymans withered hands to her lips.

Let me stay here a little longer, she managed to say at last; and then he left her.

Chapter Seventeen The Sweets Are Poisoned.

Then Mrs Willis and the clergyman had a long and anxious talk together. It lasted for a long time, and some of its results at least were manifest the next morning, for, just before the mornings work began, Mrs Willis came to the large school-room, and, calling Annie Forest to her side, laid her hand on the young girls shoulder.

I wish to tell you all, young ladies, she said, that I completely and absolutely exonerate Annie Forest from having any part in the disgraceful occurrence which took place in this school-room a short time ago. I allude, of course, as you all know, to the book which was found tampered with in Cecil Temples desk. Some one else in this room is guilty, and the mystery has still to be unravelled, and the guilty girl has still to come forward and declare herself. If she is willing at this moment to come to me here, and fully and freely confess her sin, I will quite forgive her.

The head-mistress paused, and, still with her hand on Annies shoulder, looked anxiously down the long room. The love and forgiveness which she felt shone in her eyes at this moment. No girl need have feared aught but tenderness from her just then.

No one stirred; the moment passed, and a look of sternness returned to the mistresss fine face.