She moved her seat, but, after staring at her blankly out of her dull eyes, Carrie moved hers to her side, and the class all laughed at this demonstration of affection; but Miss Palmer, who had taught long enough to know that it might mean something but affection, watched them. She had not long to do so before she discovered Carrie’s trick, Marion’s knowledge of it, and her embarrassment.
After recitation, she told them to remain, and when they were alone together she said,—
“Marion Parke! how long have you known that Carrie Smyth copied her sums off your slate?” 212
Poor Marion! She looked at Miss Palmer, then at Carrie; the color came into her face, and the tears into her eyes, but she did not answer a word.
Miss Palmer repeated her question with much asperity. Still no answer, but two large tears on Marion’s cheeks.
“You do not choose to answer me” (a little more gently now): “I shall report your behavior to Miss Ashton. Carrie Smyth, how long have you been copying Marion’s sums, instead of doing your own?”
“I’ve—I’ve never copied them, Miss Palmer,” said Carrie, looking Miss Palmer boldly in the face.
“Carrie Smyth, I saw you do so!”
“I—I never did, never, Miss Palmer. Never!”
“Go to your room, Carrie Smyth. I am not surprised at your readiness to tell a falsehood; you have been acting one for weeks, and they are all the same, the acted and the spoken, in God’s sight. Go to your room and pray; ask God to forgive you.”