"I have made all arrangements about school, and you will go next Monday. Goody will take you. The school is at Eastbourne."
Harebell looked at her aunt with frightened miserable eyes.
Then her aunt said in a gentler tone:
"You have still four days before you. If you will frankly confess, and express real sorrow for the lie you told, I may be induced to forgive you. Your uncle has made me promise that I will."
Harebell's lips quivered, but she said nothing. She knew there was no hope now. Peter was away, and was not coming home till after Monday. Unhappy as she was, the thought never crossed her mind that she might break her promise to Peter.
The four days gradually slipped away.
She watched Goody pack her clothes; Miss Triggs had come round to make her some new frocks, but she, as well as Andy and Goody, considered that going to school was nothing so very bad after all. The only comfort that came to her was hearing from Miss Triggs that Tom was getting on splendidly; he had signed the pledge and was keeping it.
"He's a first-class workman, Tom is, when he's sober, and we've heard his master thinks no end of him."
Harebell was nearly desperate when Sunday came, and when she laid her head on her pillow in the evening a tempting plan came into her head.
This was to get up very early on Monday morning, saddle Chris, and ride off with him out of reach of all the people who were taking part in sending her to school.