THE PARTY.
Meg thought that a change had come over Elsie. The child was attentive at her lessons, and softly dependent upon the protection of her friend. Elsie's mind had also become full of a school-party that was shortly to be given. There were to be theatricals. Miss Pinkett, who was to leave school after this term, was to play a grand piece on the pianoforte. The evening was to close with dancing. Some of the girls' brothers were asked to the party. Elsie was to take part in the theatricals—she was to appear as a fairy, in a white dress ornamented with tinsel.
Nothing else but the coming party was talked of. The girls discussed the festivity between lessons, and it was the theme of their speculation as they walked abroad. Meg alone was uninterested, and would have wished to escape and remain in her room that night. On the appointed day there were no lessons, and the schoolroom was decorated with flowers and sketches; the pupils lending their aid and their taste to Signora Vallaria, who supervised the arrangements.
The evening was approaching. All the girls who were to take part in the theatricals had dropped in one by one dressed for their parts. There was to be a rehearsal before the guests arrived. Elsie alone was missing. Meg sought her high and low. Once she thought she caught sight of the little figure in Miss Pinkett's room, but when she entered she found the room empty. As she was turning away she encountered Miss Pinkett, who looked at her with surprised coldness.
"I was looking for Elsie," Meg explained.
"She is not in the habit of coming into my room uninvited," replied Miss Pinkett. "Indeed no one is but yourself, Miss Beecham," and Miss Pinkett shut the door without waiting for Meg's reply.
The dress rehearsal had begun without Elsie, when suddenly the door flew open and Miss Pinkett entered in great agitation. Her diamond star was gone. Had any one seen it? The case was on the table where she had put it, but it was empty. Blank astonishment greeted the announcement. There was a rush to the young lady's room to help in the hunt for the missing jewel. The servants were called and asked if any of them had seen it; but all declared they had not entered that room. At last all adjourned to the schoolroom, where the wild excitement resolved itself into a solemn inquiry as to who had been last in Miss Pinkett's room. Whispers grew around Meg. More than one glance of suspicion was turned upon her. At last Miss Reeves asked quietly, "What were you doing, Miss Beecham, in Miss Pinkett's room a little while ago?"
"I?" replied Meg, amazed.
"You cannot deny that you were there. I met you there!" Miss Pinkett rejoined excitedly.
"What do you mean?" said Meg. She looked round in a dazed manner, then a sudden fury gripped her throat as she understood the drift of the questions.
"Do you mean to say that you accuse me of stealing?"
"It does not amount to an accusation," said Miss Reeves. "I only ask you what you were doing in Miss Pinkett's room?"
"I never touched the diamond star," said Meg.
"Never! Do you mean," cried Miss Pinkett, "that you did not touch it that day I found you in my room with the diamond in your hand?"
"I touched it that day," said Meg, and paused; she had caught sight of Elsie, cowering pale and trembling against the wall.
"Why did you touch it? Why did you say I ought not to leave it about?" hotly questioned Miss Pinkett.
"I had a reason for touching it that day."
"What reason?" asked Miss Reeves.
"One which I cannot tell. It was a good reason. Believe it or not, I don't care. But I did not touch it to-day. I did not see it."
"You were in my room," said Miss Pinkett, "and the diamond case was on the table, and the diamond was in it, I know."
"I was in your room," Meg began.
"What for?" asked Miss Pinkett.
"I was looking"—again Meg encountered that appealing look from Elsie, cowering a white trembling little scrap against the wall.
"Your explanations are lame," said Miss Reeves gravely.
"I don't care if they are lame or not," Meg interrupted fiercely. "I have not taken that diamond. That is all I have to say. I have not taken it. I had it one day in my hand. Appearances may be so far against me; but if you condemn me on that, you do it out of your hatred to me."
"Hush, Miss Beecham!" said Miss Reeves severely.
"You hate and despise me because I have no one who belongs to me in the world," continued Meg. "You call me a gypsy girl and a tramp, that's what you call me. I don't care if you hate and despise me. I can't help what I was born, and I don't want to help it. What I know is that I have not taken that diamond."
A murmur ran round the room, but Meg did not pause to consider its nature. She turned in her ungovernable indignation, and pushing through her companions she flung open the door and slammed it after her. Again she caught a glimpse of Elsie's terrorized face and figure as she rushed past.
She went out into the playground to breathe the fresh air, trembling with fury. The old wild self had returned to her, taking with it seven devils. Her heart felt too big for her breast. Tearless sobs shook her as with all the vehemence of her spirit she repelled the charge brought against her.
Then again she seemed to see before her the wretched, cringing little figure of Elsie, and the large eyes fixed wistfully upon her. A suspicion fell cold and terrible on Meg's heart and checked her wrath. She had vaguely interpreted that look as an entreaty not to reveal Elsie's admiration for the gem. It seemed now to convey another meaning. How could she see that child alone, get a few secret words with her?
She went indoors, and in the hall she met Elsie, like a little ghost, furtively creeping out, holding something in her shaking hand.
"What is it, Elsie?"
"They are going to search our things, everybody's things," gasped Elsie. "I am going to throw it away."
"Throw what away?" asked Meg energetically.
"The diamond," the convulsive voice of the child answered; and still she held something tight hidden in the small shaking hand covered with a network of blue veins.
"Oh, Elsie, did you take the diamond?" asked Meg sadly.
"Yes, I thought—I thought Miss Pinkett would not wear it. I wanted to have it for one night. I—I thought she would not find it out. I heard her say she was not going to wear it. Where shall I throw it away?"
"You must not throw it away," said Meg. "Some one else would be suspected. Come, Elsie, you must be brave. You must say that you took it. Come with me, I'll say it for you."
She put her arm about the child. But Elsie struggled like a little mad animal from her grasp.
"No, no; don't say it was I—don't say it was I!"
An infinite compassion seized Meg when she saw the big tears welling in Elsie's eyes, and she asked herself how she could save this little one. Pity grew into the stronger motive and smothered fear. It was Meg's nature that what she undertook to do she did thoroughly.
"I will ask to be punished in your stead, Elsie," she said.
"They won't punish you for me—they won't let you be punished for me!"
Meg drew her breath.
"They don't think it is I—they don't think it is I!" sobbed Elsie, clinging to Meg. "Don't say it is I!"
The child was cold with anguish.
"Very well; I will not say it is you."
"You'll not say it—you'll not say it?" repeated Elsie, clinging to Meg's skirt.
"No; I'll manage it," said Meg.
"How will you manage it? Who will give the diamond up?"
"I," said Meg.
The child put her arms round Meg's neck, kissing her over and over again, and reiterating her cry not to say she had taken it.
Meg put her gently away, marched out and went straight into the room where all were assembled.
Miss Reeves with Signora Vallaria and two other teachers were preparing for the search of the boxes. Meg walked up to the head-mistress.
"There is the diamond!" she said, holding it out with outstretched hand.
A dead pause greeted this speech. Then Miss Pinkett's laugh rippled up.
"I thought so," she said.
Miss Reeves took the jewel, lifting her hand to enjoin silence.
"What does this mean?" she asked.
"I return Miss Pinkett's diamond," Meg replied.
"Do you mean to say that you took it notwithstanding your repudiation of the accusation which shamed some of us into believing you innocent?"
"I restore it now," said Meg huskily.
"Had you heard that the boxes were to be searched?" demanded Miss Reeves.
"Yes," said Meg.
Again there was a pause.
"I will stake my word upon it, there is a mystery," said Signora Vallaria, fixing her dark eyes upon Meg.
"Miss Beecham," resumed Miss Reeves, "did you take this diamond?"
Meg remained silent.
"I repeat the question," said Miss Reeves. "Did you take this diamond?"
"I restore it, and I am ready to submit to any punishment you may decree. Is that not sufficient answer?"
Again there was a murmur round the room.
"I am afraid it is a sufficient answer," said Miss Reeves gravely. "The punishment is expulsion from school. I give you till to-morrow morning, Miss Beecham, to explain your strange conduct. You cannot attend the party. You have turned an occasion of festivity into one of humiliation and unhappiness for us all. Go upstairs. You can no longer occupy the dormitory with your fellow-pupils. You will be taken to a room on the other side of the corridor where you will sleep alone. Miss Grantley will show you the way."
Meg turned to follow her guide in silence. The stern girl seemed turned to stone.