Всего за 5.99 руб. Купить полную версию
No, she said,
in her emphatic and clear tones, the guilty girl prefers waiting until God discovers her sin for her. My dear, whoever you are, that hour is coming, and you cannot escape from it. In the meantime, girls, I wish you all to receive Annie Forest as quite innocent. I believe in her, so does Mr Everard, and so must you. Anyone who treats Miss Forest except as a perfectly innocent and truthful girl incurs my severe displeasure. My dear, you may return to your seat.
Annie, whose face was partly hidden by her curly hair during the greater part of this speech, now tossed it back, and raised her brown eyes with a look of adoration in them to her teacher. Mrs Williss face, however, still looked harassed. Her eyes met Annies, but no corresponding glow was kindled in them; their glance was just, calm, but cold.
The childish heart was conscious of a keen pang of agony, and Annie went back to her lessons without any sense of exultation.
The fact was this: Mrs Williss judgment and reason had been brought round by Mr Everards words, but in her heart of hearts, almost unknown to herself, there still lingered a doubt of the innocence of her wayward and pretty pupil. She said over and over to herself that she really now quite believed in Annie Forest, but then would come those whisperings from her pained and sore heart.
Why did she ever make a caricature of one who has been as a mother to her? If she made one caricature, could she not make another? Above all things, if she did not do it, who did?
Mrs Willis turned away from these unpleasant whispers she would not let them stay with her, and turned a deaf ear to their ugly words. She had publicly declared in the school her belief in Annies absolute innocence, but at the moment when her pupil looked up at her with a world of love and adoration in her gaze, she found to her own infinite distress that she could not give her the old love.
Annie went back to her companions, and bent her head over her lessons, and tried to believe that she was very thankful and very happy, and Cecil Temple managed to whisper a gentle word of congratulation to her, and at the twelve oclock walk Annie perceived that a few of her school-fellows looked at her with friendly eyes again. She perceived now that when she went into the play-room she was not absolutely tabooed, and that, if she chose, she might speedily resume her old reign of popularity. Annie had, to a remarkable extent, the gift of inspiring love, and her old favourites would quickly have flocked back to their sovereign had she so willed it. It is certainly true that the girls to whom the whole story was known in all its bearings found it difficult to understand how Annie could be innocent; but Mr Everards and Mrs Williss assertions were too potent to be disregarded, and most of the girls were only too willing to let the whole affair slide from their minds, and to take back their favourite Annie to their hearts again.
Annie, however, herself did not so will it. In the play-room she fraternised with the little ones who were alike her friends in adversity and sunshine; she rejected the overtures of her old favourites, but played, and romped, and was merry with the children of the sixth class. She even declined Cecils invitation to come and sit with her in her drawing-room.
Oh, no, she said, I hate being still; I am in no humour for a talk. Another time, Cecil, another time. Now then, Sybil, my beauty, get well on my back, and Ill be the willing dog carrying you round and round the room.
Annies face had not a trace of care or anxiety on it, but her eyes would not quite meet Cecils, and Cecil sighed as she turned away, and her heart, too, began to whisper little, mocking, ugly doubts of poor Annie.
During the half-hour before tea that evening Annie was sitting on the floor with a small child in her lap, and two other little ones tumbling about her, when she was startled by a shower of lollipops being poured over her head, down her neck, and into her lap. She started up and met the sleepy gaze of Susan Drummond.
Thats to congratulate you, Miss, said Susan; youre a very lucky girl to have escaped as you did.
The little ones began putting Susans lollipops vigorously into their mouths. Annie sprang to her feet, shaking the sticky sweetmeats out of her dress on to the floor.
What have I escaped from? she asked, turning round and facing her companion haughtily.
Oh, dear me! said Susan, stepping back a pace or two. I ah stifling a yawn I only meant you were very near getting into an ugly scrape. Its no affair of mine, Im sure; only I thought youd like the lollipops.
No, I dont like them at all, said Annie, nor you either. Go back to your own companions, please.
Susan sulkily
walked away, and Annie stooped down on the floor.
Now, little darlings, she said, you mustnt eat those. No, no, they are not good at all; and they have come from one of Annies enemies. Most likely they are full of poison. Let us collect them all, every one, and we will throw them into the fire before we go to tea.