Beryl said not a word, but left the room at once in obedience to her governess's command. She went away, feeling as hopelessly miserable as a child could feel. There was no anger in Miss Burton's mind towards her as she noted her unhappy look. She could have forgiven her there and then, but she judged it best to leave Beryl to herself for a time.
What a long, sad afternoon that was for Beryl! The expedition to the woods in search of the blackberries, which were just beginning to ripen, had been talked of for days, and now, instead of the anticipated pleasure, Beryl found herself a prisoner in her room, in sore trouble and disgrace.
From her window she watched the others set off, Coral seated on the pony, which Andrew led, Miss Burton walking beside her, and Lucy bringing up the rear with baskets and shawls, for they were to have tea in the wood.
Coral's face looked grave and troubled. Beryl felt sure she would not enjoy the blackberry-picking half so much without her. Miss Burton, too, looked less bright than usual; but Beryl fancied she read a look of triumph on Lucy's face, as she glanced up and saw the young prisoner peeping from the window. No doubt Lucy was pleased to think she was being thus "managed."
But the indignation stirred by Lucy's appearance quickly died out. Beryl's conscience was awake now, and made itself forcibly heard. She no longer said that her governess was unkind, and held herself aggrieved by her treatment. She saw now how very bad her conduct had been. She wondered, with a desponding sense of her own weakness, how she could have behaved so badly to one whom she loved as she loved Miss Burton; for Beryl's words to Lucy had been uttered in passion and bravado, and it was not true that she could not bear her governess.
As she remembered Miss Burton's great kindness, and the many happy hours they had passed together since she came to Egloshayle, Beryl felt more and more ashamed of herself. She longed for the party to return, that she might ask her governess to forgive her.
As if to intensify her contrition, there suddenly fluttered on to the floor from a cupboard in the room, so crammed with toys and books by the untidy owners that it would not be made to shut, a large sheet of paper. Startled by the sound it made in falling, Beryl looked to see what it was. She took up the sheet and unrolled it. It was a picture of the Good Shepherd, one of the coloured prints she had used with such success in her Sunday school. Beryl dropped it suddenly, and her face reddened with fresh shame. The memory of the day when she had tried to teach her little scholars about the Good Shepherd pierced her to the heart. She did not need to be told that example is better than precept.
How often had she made use of her quick observation to weigh the comparative merits of the words and deeds of others. The thought of her little scholars brought the keenest stab of remorse she had yet felt. A nice one she was to try and teach others! If those children could have seen her to-day, what would they have thought? And she had called herself a child of the kingdom! Beryl broke down utterly at the thought. Kneeling beside her little bed, she hid her face in her hands, and sobbed till she could sob no more. She was young, poor child, to know the keen pain and shame which comes with a sense of failure in realising our own cherished ideal of worthy living.
When Miss Burton entered the room some hours later, she had no need to utter words to draw forth Beryl's avowal of repentance. Beryl ran towards her with pale, tear-stained face and look of utter misery, crying, "Oh, I am so sorry, so sorry; I hate myself; I am a bad, horrid thing!"
Hettie Burton clasped her in her arms, and Beryl's words were lost in sobs, as she leaned her head on her governess's shoulder. Not a word of reproach or blame was spoken. Miss Burton did not try to improve the occasion. She saw that Beryl was truly sorry for her naughtiness, and she tried to make her feel that she was fully forgiven. So she soothed the child with tender words and caresses; and when she had helped her to bathe her face and set her hair in order, she led her to the schoolroom. Here stood ready the children's supper of bread and butter, milk, and blackberries, and Coral was waiting, eager to see and comfort Beryl.