The next day, at her first opportunity, she called Gincy into her room. Carefully she approached the subject. “What kind of a home did you say Lalla had, Gincy?”
“Mighty pore,” was the answer. “They’re the illest kind of people.”
Miss Howard pondered a moment over the next question. “What do you suppose will become of her when she gets back in the mountains?”
Gincy shook her head gloomily.
“Don’t you suppose it will be worth while for us to try reforming her?” Then Miss Howard explained the probation plan. “Only you and I know that she is the mischief maker. If nothing more happens the pupils will soon forget it. Of course everything depends on how she acts. She must contradict the report about Mallie and promise better behaviour in the future.”
Gincy’s face showed an inward struggle; this was so unlike the code of the mountains. “I’m afraid I couldn’t trust her,” she said at last, “but I’m willing to do anything you say.”
“I’m going to have a long talk with her this afternoon,” Miss Howard continued, “and find out the reason for her conduct.”
There was a light tap at the door, then it was pushed open and Lalla walked in. Her eyes had a sleepless look, her face was colourless. Instantly the two knew her errand. She talked very rapidly, as if fearful of losing her courage. “I started at first to fool Kizzie—she said no one could do it—then I remembered something pretty mean Mallie did to me back home and it seemed like my time had come to get even. When you wanted to search her room I got to studying about it. I was taking away her chance for learning, and she needing it mighty bad—as bad as any one could. I was letting you think her a thief—” Here Lalla broke down completely. “I reckon you’ll have—to—send me h—ome, I’m plumb bad, and—”
Gincy waited for no more. She flung her arms around the weeping girl with sudden tenderness.
“I am glad you were brave enough to confess your wrongdoing, Lalla,” said Miss Howard, much relieved. “I think you deserve another chance, and Gincy and I are going to see that you have it, too. We don’t propose to tell anybody about this, so you’ll have nothing to live down. Just show us a clean record from now on.”