“Now listen.”
Mrs Hungerford proposed a plan which was eventually carried out. This was no less than, first and foremost, to assure Brenda of her absolute forgiveness.
“You acted very badly indeed,” she said; “but I am not going to call the police, nor to put you in prison. Your punishment will be that those who know you will have to be acquainted with what has occurred. You had much better not return to the boarding-house, but stay here. Your little pupils must go back to their father, for I do not think it right that they should be with you any longer. As to you—I want you and Penelope to do something for me.”
“I to do anything for you?” said Brenda, her eyes suddenly growing soft and a new expression stealing over her face.
“Yes. My house in the country is empty at present. Will you and Penelope go there to-day and live there quietly until the holidays come to an end? I can put you on the way. When the holidays are over, Penelope will, of course, return to Hazlitt Chase, and I myself will do my utmost to get you a post which I think you may suit—not as teacher to the young, for you have not the necessary qualifications.”
From the thought of prison, the magistrates, the handcuffs, which she might possibly wear, the public examination, the trial—to going away with Penelope to Mrs Hungerford’s own house was such a relief to the miserable Brenda that, all of a sudden, she gave way utterly.
“There—now I am sorry really!” she said. “I was not a bit sorry when every one was hard to me, but I am bitterly sorry now!”
Mrs Hungerford’s arrangements were carried out in full detail. The little Amberleys were invited up to the Castle until the Reverend Josiah could be summoned. He came on the following morning, and was told in full the sad story about Brenda. He was greatly shocked, but begged that the knowledge of what had occurred should be kept from his daughters.
“I am afraid they suspect a great deal,” said Mrs Beverley, who of course had been taken into confidence.
“Poor children, life is hard on them!” said dear papa, “and I did think Brenda such a sweet young creature. How frightfully we were deceived! But I must take them back, and get Miss Juggins to teach them in future.”