On her way to school, she met two or three of the girls of her own class, who were talking, but who stopped as soon as she came within hearing. She spoke to them in her usual pleasant tone, but perceived that they were embarrassed, and, more annoyed than she liked to show, she passed on alone.
Before she reached the Academy, she heard Lionel talking in a loud tone to a group around the steps, and at last heard the words:
"How mean! I despise a thief."
"They have found out the guilty one," she thought, hastening forward.
But again, she was surprised that, on seeing her emerge from the field, their loud tones ceased altogether.
"What can it mean?" she asked herself, her cheeks burning.
Usually her appearance was greeted with a shout of welcome; but now no one ventured near her except little Annie Ross, one of the youngest girls in school.
Annie caught her hand and pulled her into the recitation room, which was quite deserted.
"It's a shame," she began in great excitement, "I shouldn't think they'd treat you so, and for nothing at all."
"Why, Annie, what are you talking about?"