She could not speak before Frank; he would consider her so mean, her cheek crimsoned at the thought, and a glimpse at Miss Lane’s pale, sad face frightened her still more; it looked so fixed and settled, so far off from things of earth, that she could not bear the idea of those eyes falling on her in shocked surprise and reproach.
She drew back, the soft “good-bye” was uttered, the slight figure flitted through the door, and in a second was skimming down the lawn with quick, graceful motions. It was too late!
About half-an-hour later, as she and Jennie were drawing in the school-room, the latter, looking out of the window, exclaimed—
“There’s Mary Noel! What brings her here, I wonder?”
Lillie was putting her drawing materials away hurriedly, a look of eagerness taking the place of the weary expression that had before rested upon her face, when Jennie continued—
“You must not go down, you know, Miss Lane told us not to have anything to do with her.”
“I don’t care!” exclaimed Lillie.
“For shame, Lillie! I’ll tell papa. What would he say if he heard you speak so?”
“I’m not going to sit still, shut up in the house all day. Besides, what is the harm? Mary Noel don’t hurt anybody.”
“It is wrong to do what your teacher tells you not to do. You know Mary Noel is not a good girl.”