"'Promised!'" repeated Mary; "she only did that because she was afraid of us. I'll answer for it, she told the whole story the moment she was safely with Maggie and her nurse."
"'Afraid!'" repeated Julia in her turn; "I wish any one of us had one-half little Bessie's moral courage and simple honesty. We threatened her and tempted her,—and all of us who have seen how eager she is to earn that prize for the lame hoy know how great the temptation was,—but she could not be turned from the straightforward truth. She has shamed us all, girls!"
"Oh, it is very easy for you to talk, Julia Grafton," said Fanny. "You did not touch the clock, and had no hand in the mischief."
"No; or I should feel that I could go at once and tell Mrs. Ashton. As it is, I cannot."
"You would have no right to do it!" exclaimed Mary, with a look at Kate's downcast face. "It is share and share alike with us. If you choose to bring trouble on yourself, you would have no right to do it, on account of the rest."
"I do not say that I should do it," said Julia. "I have not so much courage as little Bessie. But it is not Mrs. Ashton I am afraid of."
"Of course not," said Mary; "you are a favourite with Mrs. Ashton. But what are you afraid of, if not of her?"
"Of the ridicule and anger of the rest," said Julia, colouring deeply. "You called Bessie hard names, and threatened to send her to Coventry. You would do the same by me, I suppose, if I do not help you out in this; and I cannot face it as she did, though I own I am ashamed of this cowardice. She felt it too, poor little thing! Kate, did you see her pleading look at you?"
"Yes," answered Kate. "Girls, I wish this day's work could be undone."
"Well, it can't," said Fanny; "and if you think Bessie is safe, I don't see why you fret about it."