"If they send me away from you, I shall die," she assured him.
Then the prayer bell rang, and she slowly went into the house. Her uncle did not come down to breakfast, but had it in his room. He was still quite an invalid. Mrs. Keith hardly spoke to her, but as she was leaving the breakfast-table, she said:
"Are you ready to confess the lie you told? Are you sorry?"
Harebell looked at her aunt nervously.
"I feel," she said, "if I said I had told a lie, that would be a lie."
"You will be in disgrace till you do confess," said her aunt shortly.
Harebell went to the Rectory with a heavy heart.
She could hardly say "Good Morning" to Peter. Nan asked her at once what was the matter, and Harebell looked Peter straight in the face as she said:
"I'm in disgrace. Aunt Diana says I've told a lie, when I haven't. I'm going to be sent away to school, and I shall never come back again!"
"Oh yes, you will," said Peter fast and eagerly, whilst his cheeks got hot and red. "School is awfully jolly; and you always come home in the holidays. I wish I could get sent to school. No such luck for me."