Miss Christine shortly after followed her, wishing to talk with her, and show her the folly and wickedness of persisting in such conduct. She had found her door closed, and, knocking softly and receiving no answer, she gently opened it, when what was her astonishment to find Marion stretched upon the floor, weeping violently. She went to her, and, kneeling down beside her, called her by name. Marion, thus surprised, could not conceal her grief, or summon her cold, indifferent manner, and, leaning her head on Miss Christine"s shoulder, she sobbed out her sorrow, shame, and repentance.
Never since had Miss Christine in any way alluded to the event, or by any means tried to force herself into Marion"s confidence; but this glimpse into her heart had showed her what she might otherwise never have known, that Marion saw and regretted her own faults and failings, and was resolved to conquer them. From that time a secret bond of sympathy was established between pupil and scholar, and though no word was spoken, a mild, reproachful glance from Miss Christine, or her hand laid gently on Marion"s shoulder, had often checked a rising exclamation, or cutting sarcasm, which, no matter how sharply it might have struck its victim, would have rebounded with greater and deeper pain to the very heart of Marion.
At home Marion had little or nothing to call forth the disagreeable qualities of her disposition. Surrounded by love and admiration on every side, the darling of her mother, and the pride and glory of her father, to whom she appeared almost faultless, it was no wonder that she found it hard to get on smoothly when thrown among a number of girls her own age, many of whom, jealous of her superior beauty and intelligence, would have been glad of any opportunity of getting her into trouble.
Then it was that the worst side of her nature showed itself; and she was shocked when she discovered how many faults she had which she had never thought of before.
Her sharp, sarcastic speeches gave her father infinite amus.e.m.e.nt when she was at home; but there her remarks rarely wounded any one; but at school she made her words tell, and she knew that her tongue was her greatest enemy.
But towards the younger girls Marion was always kind and good-natured.
No one ever told such delightful stories, or made such pretty paper-dolls, or drew them such lovely pictures as Marion Berkley, and it was always a mystery to them why the "big girls" did not all love her.
Downstairs poor Florence had been having a hard time. When she first made her appearance in the library there had been a general rush towards her, and she was greeted with a perfect volley of questions, which it needed her utmost ingenuity to parry.
She knew Julia Thayer had a right to know all, for she had been personally concerned in the matter, besides being, next to Flo, Marion"s dearest friend; but she saw that she could not tell her without further exciting the curiosity of the other girls, and she was forced to take her book, and appear to be deeply interested in her studies. But, although her lips monotonously whispered page after page of history, she knew no more about her lesson than if she had been reading Hindoostanee.
What was her astonishment when she heard close beside her Marion"s voice, asking, in a perfectly natural tone, "Did Miss Christine say six pages of English History, or seven?"
Florence gave a quick glance at Marion"s face, and saw that, although she was a little pale, she showed no signs of the storm that had so lately disturbed her. Neither did she throughout the evening appear other than bright and cheerful, effectually silencing by her own apparent ease any surmises or questions in which her companions might have indulged, and they all supposed that she had received a severe reprimand, and that there the matter would end.
But all agreed with Sarah Brown, who exclaimed, "How Miss Stiefbach had ever swallowed that pill so easily was a perfect mystery!"
CHAPTER V.
THE APOLOGY.
"Well, Flo, I"ve hit it!" exclaimed Marion to Florence, as they were sitting together in their room Thursday afternoon.
"What do you mean?--hit what?"
"Why, I mean I"ve hit upon a plan; no, not exactly a plan;--I have decided what my apology shall be."
"Oh!" said Florence, "do you know just what you are going to say?"
"No, not precisely; that is, I have not yet settled upon any exact form of words, but I have got my ideas together, and I really think it will be something quite out of the common line."
Florence looked up inquisitively, for Marion"s face or voice by no means expressed the repugnance which she had heretofore shown whenever she had spoken of the coming apology. In fact she looked rather triumphant, and a little, amused smile played about the corners of her mouth, as she bent over her work.
"Now, Mab," exclaimed Florence, "I know you are up to something! Do tell me what it is that evidently amuses you so much?"
"Oh, nothing particular," replied Marion; but in a tone which said plainly enough that there was something very particular indeed.
"Now, Mab, you needn"t tell me!"
"That is exactly what I don"t mean to do," provokingly replied Marion.
"Oh, don"t be disagreeable! You know I am positively dying with curiosity; so out with it!" and Florence tossed her own work on to the bed, and, catching hold of Marion"s canvas, threw it behind her, as she established herself on her friend"s lap.
"Well, I"m sorry, my dear; but if your life depends on my telling you anything particular to-day, I am afraid you will come to an early grave."
Florence laid her hands on Marion"s shoulders, and looked steadily into her eyes. Marion met the look with a confident, amused smile, and exclaimed, "Well, Flo, you look as sober as a judge. I really believe you think I meditate murder; but I a.s.sure you Miss Stiefbach"s life is in no danger from my hands."
"I"ll tell you just what I do think, Marion. I believe you are going to refuse to apologize, and if you do, you will be worse off than you"ve been yet;" and Florence really looked as serious as if she were trying a case in court.
"No, Flo, you needn"t trouble yourself on that score. I mean to apologize before the whole school, and M. Beranger to boot,--just as old Stiffy ordered."
"Well, I am glad of it! Not glad that it _must_ be done, you know; but I was afraid you would try to get rid of it in some way; and I know that would make matters worse."
"No, I don"t mean to get rid of it; I shall do it in the most approved style. Come, get up, miss; you"re awfully heavy!"
Florence jumped up, considerably relieved, but still a little suspicious of her friend"s intentions. At that moment Julia Thayer came into the room.
"O girls! you here?" she exclaimed. "I"ve been hunting for you everywhere."
"Well, I don"t think you hunted much; we"ve been here ever since lessons were done," replied Marion.
"Take a seat, Miss Thayer, and make yourself at home," said Florence.
"Thank you, I was only waiting to be asked. Now, Marion, do tell me; have you decided what you are going to say to-morrow?"
"It is no use asking her; you can"t get anything out of her. I"ve just tried my best."
"What! don"t you mean to tell us, beforehand?"
"No."
"Not a word? not a syllable? Well, I do declare! I tell you what it is, Flo, she means to astonish us all by some wonderful production."
"I suppose most of the girls _will_ be astonished, for I don"t believe they know there is to be any apology at all."
"No, I don"t think they suspect it," said Julia. "So much for knowing how to hold one"s tongue."
"Well, Julia, I guess this is the first time you could be accused of that," laughingly replied Flo.
"That is a libel! Who held their tongue about Aunt Bettie"s doughnuts, I should like to know?"
"Another rare instance," mischievously put in Marion; "put it down, Julia, you"ll never have another chance."
"But, girls, what do you mean?" cried Julia, in a deprecating tone. "Do you think I run and tell everything I know?"
"No, dear, not a bit of it," replied Flo; "you are not quite so reserved as Marion, but I never heard any one accuse you of telling what you ought to keep to yourself, or, as the boys say, of "peaching.""