IN MISS HARLAND'S OFFICE
Two very frightened girls presented themselves at the door of Miss
Harland's office the next morning.
They showed their feeling very differently. Rosalind was trembling and
weeping, the picture of grief; but Marcia's dark face was settled into
an expression of sullen determination not to speak. It might have been
carved out of stone as she stood with her lowering brow, and sombre dark
eyes fixed on the floor.
Miss Harland looked at them very gravely and sadly. Marcia's eyes were
raised presently with a defiant and stubborn expression that was
unpromising. Rosalind did not look up at all. She was frankly crying. At
last Miss Harland spoke.
"I am sorry to have to send for you, girls, but Miss Charlton has
reported that you were both absent without leave last night until a
later hour than I like my girls to be out--especially without
permission. I must ask you, therefore, to give me a full account of your
expedition--where you went, and with whom. I am sorry you had not
confidence enough in me to tell me about it, and to ask my leave; but
since you have not done so, I must require an explanation, Marcia, you
may speak."
But Marcia remained stubbornly silent, only looking up from under her
dark brows with her sullen, defiant expression.
After waiting a few minutes, Miss Harland turned to Rosalind.
"You will not refuse to answer me, Rosalind? I think you have not found
me a hard mistress in the past, have you?"
Rosalind could scarcely speak for tears. "Oh, no, Miss Harland. I'll
tell you--what I can--"
"Thank you. Then tell me at whose house you were, and what took you
there?"
"It was a party. They invited Marcia, and said she could bring a
friend."
"And did she suggest that you come without permission?"
"Oh, no. Miss Harland. She--she said she was glad you did not object--"
Here Marcia gave a warning glance in Rosalind's direction, which was not
lost on Miss Harland. "There was no harm in it," she muttered.
"Then, Marcia, if there was no harm, why not have come and told me, and
had my leave to go openly?"
"I thought you wouldn't let us," in a hoarse, defiant voice.
Miss Harland was silent an instant. How could she make this girl, with
her innately deceitful and secretive nature, understand where the wrong
lay?
"And who escorted you there, and brought you back?" she asked.
Rosalind answered, as Marcia seemed determined not to speak again.
"Mrs. Marshall's son and another boy; I don't know his name. At least,
they told us, but I can't remember."
Miss Harland felt relieved. Rosalind's replies bore the stamp of truth.
In fact, as Miss Harland knew, she was too simple and straightforward to
be other than truthful. Her mind did not work fast enough to concoct a
falsehood; she was silly and easily led, but when it came to the point,
she would blunder out the truth. Marcia, on the other hand, was
extremely secretive, and would rather weave a tangled web of evasions
than give a clear and truthful answer. Miss Harland felt that there was
some confusion somewhere. Mrs. Marshall was a good friend of her. She
could be sure that she would not have countenanced any underhand
dealing. Why, then, did Marcia wish to conceal the fact of the
invitation? She was puzzled, but relieved that the affair was no worse
than a schoolgirl's natural love of a secret adventure. But it would not
do to pass it over lightly.
"And so you thought to deceive me, and slipped out without my
permission. Don't you see, Marcia, that _there_ is where the harm lies?
I must not pass over such an infringement of the school regulations, and
so I must punish you both. You will be restricted for one month, or
until after Christmas. And the next time you wish to go out, come to me
frankly and ask permission. If possible, I will grant it; and if I do
not see fit, I shall expect you to submit cheerfully to my decision in
the matter. Now you may go to your classes."
Marcia left the room without a word, looking like a thunder cloud.
Rosalind lingered, sobbing, to speak the words of contrition for which
Miss Harland had been waiting.
"Please forgive me, Miss Harland. I'm sorry--so sorry, truly. I'll never
do it again. It wasn't a bit of fun, anyway, for I didn't like going
without leave, and I was scared all the time that somebody would
recognize us. I don't like doing things in that underhand way; it
frightens me. I knew all the time it was wrong, but I let Marcia
persuade me. It was my own fault, and I'm sorry. Forgive me."
The pretty face was very pleading as Rosalind looked up with blue eyes
drowned in tears. Miss Harland's kiss of forgiveness was ready, as she
put her arm around the repentant sinner and drew her close into her kind
arms.
"I forgive you, Rosalind, but there is Another whose pardon you must
ask," she said tenderly.
"You mean God. I will, indeed, Miss Harland. I have already, and I will
again," promised Rosalind.