“I haven’t seen them for some time, but I will find out where they are.”
“As soon as ever you find them, send them straight to me. I shall be here for the present.”
Miss Symes glanced in some wonder from Sibyl to Fanny; then she went out of the room without further comment.
When she was quite alone with the girls Mrs. Haddo said, “Fanny, a fresh bedroom has been prepared for you, and I shall be glad if you will go and spend the rest of this day there. I do not feel capable of speaking to you at present. As to you, Sibyl, your conduct has been bad enough; but at the eleventh hour—and, we may hope, in time—you have made restitution. You may, therefore, rejoin the girls of the lower school.”
“Of the lower school?” said Sibyl.
“Yes. Your punishment is that you return to the lower school for at least a year, until you are more capable of guiding your own conduct, and less likely to be influenced by the wicked passions of girls who have had more experience than yourself. You can go to your room also for the present, and to-morrow morning you will resume your duties in the lower school.”
Fanny and Sibyl both turned away, neither of them saying a word to the other. They had scarcely done so before Miss Symes came in, her face flushed with excitement, and accompanied by the twins.
“My dear girls, where have you been?” said Mrs. Haddo.
“With Mrs. Miles,” said Sylvia.
“I cannot blame you, under the circumstances, although you have broken a rule. My dears, thank God for His mercies. Here is the lost packet.”