“I have been punished by the way the girls have treated me! I am punished when Mr. Benjamin says I have told a lie! But I want you to do something to hurt me! I wish Mr. Benjamin would beat me, or put me on bread and water. I hate myself. I’m just a common, mean liar! Whatever you decide to do to me is all right, and I deserve it!”
As she denounced herself, she fairly glowed with indignation; she was radiant with humility. The girls were hypnotized by her!
“I think Isabelle should miss the recreation hour for a month,” said Mr. Benjamin.
The girls gasped, for this was the extreme penalty, but Isabelle never flinched.
“I will, Mr. Benjamin. I’ll go to bed alone, in the dark, for a month and pray the Lord not to let me be a liar.”
“I think thee must not rely too much upon divine power, Isabelle. Set a watch upon thy tongue thyself,” he said—very severely for the gentle Adam. “Thee may go to bed now.”
Condemned, abased, like a prisoner en route to the gallows, Isabelle walked from among them. She was disgraced, but, Isabelle-like, she wore her shame like a rose in her hair!