“And I,” said Annie Jones, “know nothing either. If I knew, I don’t think anybody could frighten me into keeping silence.”
“And I, please Mrs. Fleming, know nothing either,” said Rufa Conway.
“Thank you, my dears; I believe you three absolutely. Do you mind, then, my dear children, leaving the room? You have spoken so frankly and so honestly that I have nothing further to say to any of you.”
“But is that fair?” suddenly interrupted The Imp.
“Kitty, I must request you to be silent; you really forget in whose presence you are.”
Kitty gave an impatient sigh. Annie, Priscilla, and Rufa slowly left the room.
“Now,” said Mrs. Fleming, “there remains in this room Hannah Joyce”—poor Hannah shook from head to foot—“Sophy Marshall, Grace and Anne Dodd, and you, Kitty Merrydew, that means five girls in all. I am going to ask each of you in turn if you know anything at all about this matter; but before I put such a solemn question to you I want you to realise what it means.”
“Oh please, don’t, don’t lecture us!” said The Imp.
“Yes, Kitty, I must tell you what I mean. If now any of you dare to conceal the truth, you do it in the face of an angry God. Children, is it worth while making God angry? Think, my children, how short is life, think how for ever and ever is eternity. Do you want to incur His displeasure? My children, we none of us know how long we may have to live; but for each of us will come the day when we draw our last breath, and when our naked souls must stand in His presence. Think of that now. Children, you may have been tempted to be unkind to that little Irish girl, and if such were the case, and you were tempted, believe me, I blame myself in the matter. I should have realised far more deeply than I did how ignorant the child was, I should have realised the fact that she had never before been at a school like this, and I should have guarded her with my own loving care. So, my children, if now any of you will confess what has happened, I promise not only freely to forgive you, but to keep the matter secret from the rest of your companions. Peggy will not tell, for Peggy is brave; but Peggy knows. A girl doesn’t get her leg broken without knowing how it happened. Now, children, will you really, really hold your tongues, and brave the anger of God? No, I don’t think that you will; I don’t think girls who have been trained at The Red Gables School could do that. Think of your mothers. Kitty, your mother was one of my favourite pupils, and you have a look of her, my dear child; she is dead, poor Kitty, or you would not have been the mischievous little girl you are. She was the soul of honour, Kitty, and it was for her sake that I admitted you here. And, Anne and Grace, your mother long ago used to teach me, and she begged very hard that I would admit you to my school; and I did, for her sake, for she was very good and very kind to me. I am quite sure she would not encourage dishonour or cruelty. And, Hannah Joyce, your people are upright and brave and good, your father fights for the king in distant lands. And, Sophy, your mother is a great invalid, and the joy of her life is getting a letter in which I can praise her little daughter. And now, my children, think of those you love, and take courage. I am far from perfect myself, so I think I will try to understand. Could any one have been cruel to that little Irish girl?
“Now I am going to question you. Hannah, do you know anything about this matter? Hannah, I don’t think for one minute that you are implicated in it, for I know your nature so well, and I don’t think you could do anything really cruel; but do you know anything that will throw light on the circumstance; and if so, will you tell me, dear? Don’t fear your fellows, my child; tell me as you would tell God. It isn’t worth while lying down to rest to-night and knowing that God is angry with you, Hannah Joyce.”