“Yes,” said Hannah. “I want to kiss you, Sophy,” she added.
“Come for a walk with me, Hannah, won’t you?” said Sophia.
“I will. I have just finished your dress, and it looks so tidy. Let’s fetch our hats, both of us, and go out.”
Meanwhile Mrs. Fleming sat very quiet and thoughtful in her library. There came a tap at her door, and Miss Archdale entered.
“Julia, my dear,” said the head-mistress, “I never felt in such a pickle in the whole of my life.”
“Why, what can be wrong now?” asked Miss Archdale.
Mrs. Fleming then related the scene which had just taken place. “I must tell you quite plainly,” she said, in conclusion, “that I am now convinced of Kitty’s bad influence in the school, and yet the terrible thing is that I have no positive proof, and cannot obtain a proof without spying and prying, a thing which I cannot possibly stoop to, nor allow any of my dear assistant teachers to stoop to. My belief that real wickedness comes to light in the end is as strong as ever; nevertheless, a great deal of mischief may take place before this desirable state of things arrives.”
“The simple thing,” said Miss Archdale, after a pause, “would surely be to ask her people to remove Kitty. You could give a good reason for this without in any way injuring her character.”
“That is just what I cannot do, my dear Julia. The girl is going to compete for the Howard miniature, and would be naturally very furious if she were dismissed now. I would send her away to-morrow if I could find proof; but I cannot get proof; that is the awful thing. I know the child is poor; her mother was a very nice woman, and was loved in the school; I know nothing about her father. On her deathbed her mother wrote to me and begged of me to take Kitty, if in any way possible. How then can I dismiss her now? She goes in the holidays to an aunt, an unmarried woman, a sister of her father’s. I have never seen Miss Merrydew, but I rather fancy that she has very little influence over her niece. No, my dear, we must keep her for the present, although my heart aches at the thought. There is no doubt whatever that there is a conspiracy in the Lower School, and that Kitty Merrydew is at the head of it. She is helped by the Dodds, weak, poor children, with heaps of money. Sophia and Hannah were both rather in her power, but have broken loose. I consider that Sophia behaved with great bravery to-day; the poor child was evidently sick with fright. And now I want you, my dear, to get her right away from Kitty’s influence. She must sleep for the future in the lower dormitory, in the bed which was occupied by Peggy Desmond; and Priscilla Price, an admirable, trustworthy girl, must go and sleep in the upper dormitory. I will myself speak to Priscilla about this. Indeed, it would not be at all a bad plan to put both Rufa and Priscilla into the upper dormitory; it would never do to have that room handed over to the machinations of Kitty and her satellites. Will you speak to Miss Smith at once about these changes, dear, and send Prissy to me when you see her? Oh dear, I am tired, Julia. The management of a school is no sinecure.”
“You poor darling,” said Miss Archdale, “it is worse than a sin to worry you.”