“I know Dorothy is a good girl; I am very fond of Gladys; but why do you select Susan as the one in the whole school to be prayed for, or with?”
If an equivocation had been natural or easy to Marion, she might have been ready with several now, which perhaps would have satisfied Miss Ashton; but she was a straightforward, honest girl, who never in her whole life had been placed before where she hesitated what to answer; if she had been a culprit to-night, she would hardly have looked more utterly discomfited than standing there trying to look Miss Ashton in the face.
“You do not choose to answer me,” Miss Ashton said after waiting a moment. “Very well, then, we will go back to the prayer-meetings; I think it would be unwise for you to attempt any such thing. You might at first find a few girls who would be willing to come, but they would soon tire of it, and you would find yourself alone, unless Dorothy’s kind heart made her willing to remain. Let me tell you, my dear Marion, the best, in fact the only way for a pupil to exert a strong and lasting religious influence is by living a consistent Christian life. What you are 228 always tells, never what you may appear. If you are truly desirous to exert this influence, you will let your companions see it in your daily walk and conversation. All the prayer-meetings you could have would be useless, if you yourself failed in a Christian grace.
“To be kind, loving, gentle, true, faithful in all your duties, great and small, that is what your parents and I hope for in you. I had almost said, and I am sure you will not misunderstand me, I would rather have the influence of good recitations, strict observance of rules, lady-like behavior in all places and at all times, than a prayer-meeting in your room every night in the week. Now it is late; go back, and if you do not wish to tell me what is wrong with Susan, I must be all the more observant of her myself. Good-night.”
Marion said “Good-night” faintly; certainly this was a very different reception from what she had expected. “She wants me to be perfect,” she said to herself fretfully, “and she knows that I never can be; then Susan! What have I done? Oh, dear! dear! I wish I had never thought about a prayer-meeting.”
So far she had only dimly seen where her motives had been wrong, but she felt their check.
Fräulein Sausmann met her on her way to her room.
“Why, Marione!” she said, drawing her little self erect, and trying to look very dignified, “I am astonish! I am regret! You am very onright. You am to be gone to Fräulein Ashton next day and say 229 you regret; I determine on it! Marione, you stand-under?”
“I have just come from Miss Ashton,” said Marion gravely.
“You has just come! Very bad. You schlecht Fräulein! What you for done?”