“The past is past,” said Miss Roy. “Go straight forward in the future; try and believe that the future is yours, that you can be a very brave and a very good girl.”
“But is the past past?” asked Nan.
“There may come a day when you will be able to tell me all about it; go straight forward now into the future. And, Nancy, my dear, nothing has been said, but I cannot help using my eyes. Do not be afraid of Augusta; give her back in her own coin. Show her that you are not in the slightest degree under her control.”
“Oh, but I am!” thought poor Nancy. “And I can never tell—less now than ever—for to lose that splendid chance of winning the Royal Cross, and to be deprived of my blue ribbon, would break my heart.”
“Nancy,” said Augusta, a few evenings after this, as the two girls were alone in the schoolroom.
Nan was toiling steadily through the books which she had to prepare for her examination; she raised her eyes when Augusta spoke, and a slight frown came between her brows.
“Now, stop that,” said Augusta, petulance in her tone.
“Stop what?” asked Nancy.
“Frowning when I speak to you.”
“Oh, I will—I will! What is it? I wish I did not feel so cross.”