Ah, how hard it was to keep back the angry words that were rising to her lips; not to tell those great girls what she thought of them!
"Why, how is this, my dears?" said Mrs. Ashton, coming in, and looking round in surprise. "I thought Monsieur Gaufrau was here."
"He did come in, ma'am," said Mary Merton demurely, and with an air of perfect innocence; "but he had forgotten a book, and thought he had time to go for it."
Mrs. Ashton looked at the clock, then took out her watch.
"The clock is too slow," she said. "No, it has stopped! That accounts for his mistake. I must really have it put in order."
Not a word was spoken. Bessie, quite forgetting in her anxiety that Jane was waiting for her, stood looking from one to another, as Mrs. Ashton examined the clock, touching it with a kind of reverent affection, but not one of those who were in the secret would meet the child's eye.
Maggie came in to see why Bessie did not come; and, feeling as if she could not part with Kate in such an angry mood, the little girl went up to her and slipped her hand in hers; but Kate pushed her from her, and Bessie turned away with a swelling heart.
Suddenly Julia Grafton, who had not spoken while the others were tempting Bessie, caught the child in her arms as she passed, and, kissing her warmly, whispered, "You are right, Bessie! I wish I were as brave as you."