by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER XXI.--THE TORN BOOK.
On the following morning Audrey and Evelyn started off for school. Onthe way Audrey turned to her companion.
"I wonder if anything has been discovered with regard to the injuredbook?" she said.
"Oh, I wish you would not talk so continually about that stupid oldfuss!" said Evelyn in her crossest voice.
"It is useless to shirk it," was Audrey's reply. "You do not suppose fora single moment that Miss Henderson will not get to the bottom of themischief? For my part, I think I could understand a girl doing it justfor a moment in a spirit of revenge, although I have never yet feltrevengeful to any one--but how any one could keep it up and allow theschool to get into trouble is what puzzles me."
"Were you ever at school before, Audrey?" was Evelyn's remark.
"No; were you?"
"I wish I had been; I have always longed for school."
"Well, you have your wish at last. How do you like it?"
"I should like it fairly well if I were put into a higher form, and ifthis stupid fuss were not going on."
"Why do you dislike the subject being mentioned so much?"
Evelyn colored slightly. Audrey looked at her. There was no suspicion inAudrey's eyes; it was absolutely impossible for her to connect hercousin with anything so mean and low. Evelyn had a great manyobjectionable habits, but that she could commit what was in Audrey'sopinion a very grave sin, and then tell lies about it, was more than theyoung girl could either imagine or realize.
The pretty governess-cart took them to school in good time, and theusual routine of the morning began. It was immediately after prayers,however, that Miss Henderson spoke from her desk to the assembledschool.
"I am sorry to tell you all," she began, "that up to the present I havenot got the slightest clue to the mystery of the injured book. I havequestioned, I have gone carefully into every particular, and all I canfind out is that the book was left in classroom No. 4 (which is usuallyoccupied by the girls of the Fourth Form); that it was placed there atnine o'clock in the morning, and was not used again by Miss Thompsonuntil school was over--namely, between five and six o'clock in theevening. During that time, as far as I can make out, only one girl wasalone in the room. That girl was Evelyn Wynford. I do not in any wayaccuse Evelyn Wynford of having committed the sin--for sin it was--but Ihave to mention the fact that she was alone in the room during recess,having failed to learn a lesson which had been set her. During theafternoon the room was, as far as I can tell, empty for a couple ofhours, and of course some one may have come in then and done themischief. I therefore have not the slightest intention of suspecting agirl who only arrived that morning; but I mention the fact, all thesame, that Evelyn Wynford was _alone in the room for the space of twentyminutes_."
While Miss Henderson was speaking all eyes were turned in Evelyn'sdirection; all eyes saw a white and stubborn face, and two angry browneyes that flashed almost wildly round the room and then looked down.Just for an instant a few of the girls said to themselves, "That is aguilty face." But again they thought, "How could she do it? Why shouldshe do it? No, it certainly cannot be Evelyn Wynford."
As to Audrey, she pitied Evelyn very much. She thought it extremely hardon her that Miss Henderson should have singled her out for individualnotice on this most painful occasion, and out of pity for her she wouldnot once glance in her direction.
Miss Henderson paused for a moment; then she continued:
"Whoever the sinner may be, I am determined to sift this crime to thebottom. I shall severely punish the girl who tore the book unless shemakes up her mind to confess to me between now and to-morrow evening. Ifshe confesses before school is over to-morrow evening, I shall not onlynot punish but I shall forgive her. It will be my painful duty, however,to oblige her to confess her sin before the entire school, as in noother way can the rest of the girls be exonerated. I give her tillto-morrow evening to make up her mind. I hope she will ask for strengthfrom above to enable her to make this very painful confession. I myselfshall pray that she may be guided aright. If no one comes forward bythat time, I must again assemble the school to suggest a very terriblealternative."
Here Miss Henderson left the room, and the different members of theschool went off to their respective duties.
School went on much as usual. The girls were forced to attend to theirnumerous duties; the all-absorbing theme was therefore held more or lessin abeyance for the time being. At recess, however, knots of girls mightbe seen talking to one another in agitated whispers. The subject of theinjured book was the one topic on every one's tongue. Evelyn producedchocolates, crystallized fruits, and other dainties from a richlyembroidered bag which she wore at her side, and soon had her own littlecoterie of followers. To these she imparted her opinion that MissHenderson was not only a fuss, but a dragon; that probably a servant hadtorn the book--or perhaps, she added, Miss Thompson herself.
"Why," said Evelyn, "should not Miss Thompson greatly dislike MissHenderson, and tear the outside page out of the book just to spite her?"
But this theory was not received as possible by any one to whom sheimparted it. Miss Thompson was a favorite; Miss Thompson hated no one;Miss Thompson was the last person on earth to do such a shabby thing.
"Well," said Evelyn crossly, "I don't know who did it; and what is more,I don't care. Come and walk with me, Alice," she said to a pretty littlecurly-headed girl who sat next to her at class. "Come and let me tellyou about all the grandeur which will be mine by and by. I shall bequeen by and by. It is a shame--a downright shame--to worry a girl in myposition with such a trifle as a torn book. The best thing we can all dois to subscribe amongst ourselves and give the old dragon another_Sesame and Lilies_. I don't mind subscribing. Is it not a goodthought?"
"But that will not help her," said Alice; while Cherry, who stood near,solemnly shook her head.
"Why will it not help her?" asked Evelyn.
"Because it was the inscription she valued--the inscription in herbrother's writing; her brother who is dead, you know."
Evelyn was about to make another pert remark when a memory assailed her.Naughty, heartless, rude as she was, she had somewhere a spark offeeling. If she had loved any one it was the excitable and strange womanshe had called "mothery."
"If mothery gave me something and wrote my name in it I'd be fond ofit," she thought; and just for a moment a prick of remorse visited herhard little heart.
No other girl in the whole school could confess the crime which Evelynhad committed, and the evening came in considerable gloom andexcitement. Audrey could talk of nothing else on their way home.
"It is terrible," said Audrey. "I am really sorry we are both at theschool; it makes things so unpleasant for us. And you, Evelyn--I did pityyou when Miss Henderson said to-day that you were alone in the room. Didyou not feel awful?"
"No, I did not," replied Evelyn. "At least, perhaps I did just for aminute."
"Well, it was very brave of you. I should not have liked to be in yourposition."
Evelyn turned the conversation.
"I wonder whether any one will confess to-morrow," said Audrey again.
"Perhaps it was one of the servants," remarked Evelyn. Then she saidabruptly, "Oh, do let us change the subject!"
"There is something fine about Evelyn after all," thought Audrey; "And Iam so glad! She took that speech of Miss Henderson's very well indeed.Now, I scarcely thought it fair to have her name singled out in the wayit was. Surely Miss Henderson could not have suspected my littlecousin!"
At dinner Audrey mentioned the whole circumstance of the torn book toher parents. The girls were again dining with the Squire and LadyFrances. The Squire was interested for a short time; he then began tochat with Evelyn, who was fast, in her curious fashion, becoming afavorite of his. She was always at her best in his society, and nownestled up close to him, and said in an almost winsome manner:
"Don't let us talk about the old fuss at school."
"Whom do you call the old
fuss, Evelyn?"
"Miss Henderson. I don't like her a bit, Uncle Edward."
"That is very naughty, Evelyn. Remember, I want you to like her."
"Why?"
"Because for the present, at least, she is your instructress."
"But why should I like my instructress?"
"She cannot influence you unless you like her."
"Then she will never influence me, because I shall never like her,"cried the reckless girl. "I wish you would teach me, Uncle Edward. Ishould learn from you; you would influence me because I love you."
"I do try to influence you, Evelyn, and I want you to do a great manythings for me."
"I would do anything in all the world for him," thought Evelyn, "exceptconfess that I tore that book; but that I would not do even for him. Ofcourse, now that there has been such an awful fuss, I am sorry I did it,but for no other reason. It is one comfort, however, they cannotpossibly suspect me."
Lady Frances, however, took Audrey's information in a very differentspirit from what her husband did. She felt indignant at Evelyn's havingbeen singled out for special and undoubtedly unfavorable notice by MissHenderson, and resolved to call at the school the next day to have aninterview with the head-mistress. She said nothing to Audrey about herintention, and the girls went off to school without the least idea ofwhat Lady Frances was about to do. Her carriage stopped before ChepstowHouse a little before noon. She inquired for Miss Henderson, and wasimmediately admitted into the head-mistress's private sitting-room.There Miss Henderson a moment or two later joined her.
"I am sorry to trouble you," began Lady Frances at once, "but I havecome on a matter which occasioned me a little distress. I allude to themystery of the torn book. Audrey has told me all about it, so I am inpossession of full particulars. Of course I am extremely sorry for you,and can quite understand your feelings with regard to the injury of abook you value so much; but, at the same time, you will excuse mysaying, Miss Henderson, that I think your mentioning Evelyn's name inthe way you did was a little too obvious. It was uncomfortable for thepoor child, although I understand from my daughter that she took itextremely well."
"In a case of this kind," replied Miss Henderson quietly, "one has to bejust, and not to allow any favoritism to appear."
"Oh, certainly," said Lady Frances; "it was my wish in sending bothgirls to school that they should find their level."
"And I regret to say," answered Miss Henderson, "that your niece's levelis not a high one."
"Alas! I am aware of it. I have been terribly pained since Evelyn camehome by her recklessness and want of obedience; but this is a verydifferent matter. This shows a most depraved nature; and of course youcannot for a moment have suspected my niece when you spoke of her beingalone in the room."
"Had any other girl been alone in the room I should equally havementioned her name," said Miss Henderson. "I certainly did not at thetime suspect Miss Wynford."
"What do you mean by 'did not at the time'? Have you changed youropinion?"
Lady Frances's face turned very white.
"I am sorry to say that I have."
"What do you mean?"
"If you will pardon me for a moment I will explain."
Miss Henderson left the room.
While she was absent Lady Frances felt a cold dew breaking out on herforehead.
"This is beyond everything," she thought. "But it is impossible; thechild could never have done it. What motive would she have? She is notas bad as that; and it was her very first day at school."
Miss Henderson re-entered the room, accompanied by Miss Thompson. InMiss Thompson's hand was a copy of the History of England that Evelynhad been using.
"Will you kindly open that book," said Miss Henderson, "and show LadyFrances what you have found there?"
Miss Thompson did so. She opened the History at the reign of Edward I.Between the leaves were to be seen two fragments of torn paper. MissThompson removed them carefully and laid them upon Lady Frances's hand.Lady Frances glanced at them, and saw that they were beyond doubt tornfrom a copy of Ruskin's _Sesame and Lilies_. She let them drop backagain on to the open page of the book.
"I accuse no one," said Miss Henderson. "Even now I accuse no one; but Igrieve to tell you, Lady Frances, that this book was in the hands ofyour niece, Evelyn Wynford, on that afternoon.--Miss Thompson, will yourelate the entire circumstances to Lady Frances?"
"I am very, very sorry," said Miss Thompson. "I wish with all my heart Ihad understood the child better, but of course she was a stranger to me.The circumstance was this: I gave her the history of the reign of EdwardI. to look over during class, as of course on her first day at schoolshe had no regular lessons ready. She glanced at it, told me she knewthe reign, and amused herself looking about during the remainder of thetime. At recess I called her to me and questioned her. She seemed to betotally ignorant of anything relating to Edward I. I reproved her forhaving made an incorrect statement----"
"For having told a lie, you mean," snapped Lady Frances.
Miss Thompson bowed.
"I reproved her, and as a punishment desired her to look over the reignwhile the other girls were in the playground."
"And quite right," said Lady Frances.
"She was very much annoyed, but I was firm. I left her with the book inher hand. I have nothing more to say. At six o'clock that evening Iremoved _Sesame and Lilies_ from its place in the classroom, and took itaway to continue the preparation of a lecture. I then found that severalpages had been removed. This morning, early, I happened to take thisvery copy of the History, and found these fragments in the part of thebook which contains the reign of Edward I."
"Suspicion undoubtedly now points to Evelyn," said Miss Henderson; "andI must say, Lady Frances, that although a matter of this kind pertainsentirely to the school, and must be dealt with absolutely by thehead-mistress, yet your having called, and in a measure taken the matterup, relieves me of a certain responsibility."
"Suspicion does undoubtedly point to the unhappy child," said LadyFrances; "but still, I can scarcely believe it. What do you mean to do?"
"I shall to-morrow morning have to state before the entire school what Ihave now stated to you."
"It might be best for me to remove Evelyn, and let her confess to you inwriting."
"I do not think that would be either right or fair. If the girl is takenaway now she is practically injured for life. Give her a chance, Ibeseech you, Lady Frances, of retrieving her character."
"Oh, what is to be done?" said Lady Frances. "To think that my daughtershould have a girl like that for a companion! You do not know how we areall to be pitied."
"I do indeed; you have my sincere sympathy," said Miss Henderson.
"And what do you advise?"
"I think, as she is a member of the school, you must leave her to me.She committed this offense on the very first day of her school-life, andif possible we must not be too severe on her. She has not been broughtup as an English girl."
Lady Frances talked a little longer with the head-mistress, and wentaway; she felt terribly miserable and unhappy.
