Meta to secure Maggie atall costs.
"You will come?" said Miss Day; "you must come." Then coming up closeto Maggie, she whispered in an eager voice--"Would not you like to findout who has taken your five-pound note? Miss Peel is your friend; wouldit not gratify you to clear her?"
"Why should I clear one who can never possibly be suspected?" repliedMiss Oliphant, in a voice of anger. Her words were spoken aloud, and sovehemently that Annie Day drew back a step or two in alarm.
"Well, but you would _like_ to know who really took your money?" shereiterated, again speaking in a whisper.
Maggie was standing by one of the bookcases; she stretched up her handto take down a volume. As she did so, her eyes rested for a moment onPriscilla.
"I would as soon suspect myself as her," she thought, "and yet lastnight, for a moment, even I was guilty of an unworthy thought of you,Prissie, and if I could doubt, why should I blame others? If going tothe Elliot-Smiths' will establish your innocence, I will go."
"Well," said Miss Day, who was watching her face, "I am to see Metato-morrow morning; am I to tell her to expect you?"
"Yes," replied Maggie, "but I wish to say at once, with regard to thatfive-pound note, that I am not interested in it. I am so careless aboutmy money matters, that it is quite possible I may have been mistakenwhen I thought I put it into my purse."
"Oh! oh! but you spoke _so_ confidently this morning."
"One of my impulses. I wish I had not done it."
"Having done it, however," retorted Miss Day, "it is your duty to takeany steps which may be necessary to clear the college of so unpleasantand disgraceful a charge."
"You think I can do this by going to the Elliot-Smiths'?"
"Hush! you will spoil all by speaking so loud. Yes, I fully believe weshall make a discovery on Friday night."
"You don't suppose I would go to act the spy?"
"No, no, nothing of the sort; only come--only come!"
Maggie opened her book, and glanced at some of its contents beforereplying.
"Only come," repeated Annie, in an imploring voice.
"I said I would come," answered Maggie. "Must I reiterate my assurance?Tell Miss Elliot-Smith to expect me."
Maggie read for a little in the library; then, feeling tired, she rosefrom her seat and crossed the large room, intending to go up at once toher own chamber. In the hall, however, she was attracted by seeing MissHeath's door slightly open. Her heart was full of compunction forhaving, even for a moment, suspected Priscilla of theft. She thoughtshe would go and speak to Miss Heath about her.
She knocked at the Vice-Principal's door.
"Come in," answered the kind voice, and Maggie found herself a momentlater seated by the fire: the door of Miss Heath's room shut, and MissHeath herself standing over her, using words of commiseration.
"My dear," she said, "you look very ill."
Maggie raised her eyes. Miss Heath had seen many moods on that charmingface; now the expression in the wide-open, brown eyes caused her own tofill with sudden tears.
"I would do anything to help you, my love," she said, tenderly, and,stooping down, she kissed Maggie on her forehead.
"Perhaps, another time," answered Miss Oliphant. "You are all that isgood, Miss Heath, and I may as well own frankly that I am neither wellnor happy, but I have not come to speak of myself just now. I want tosay something about Priscilla Peel."
"Yes, what about her?"
"She came to you last night. I know what she came about."
"She told me she had confided in you," answered the Vice-Principal,gravely.
"Yes. Well, I have come to say that she must not be allowed to give upher Greek and Latin."
"Why not?"
"Miss Heath, how can you say, `why not'? Prissie is a genius; herinclination lies in that direction. It is in her power to become one ofthe most brilliant classical scholars of her day."
Miss Heath smiled. "Well, Maggie," she said, slowly, "even suppose thatis the case--and you must own that, clever as Priscilla is, you make anextreme statement when you say such words--she may do well, very well,and yet turn her attention to other subjects for the present."
"It is cruel!" said Maggie, rising and stamping her foot, impatiently."Priscilla has it in her to shed honour on our college; she will take afirst-class when she goes in for her tripos, if her present studies arenot interfered with."
Miss Heath smiled at Maggie in a pitying sort of way. "I admit," shesaid, "that first-class honours would be a very graceful crown of bay toencircle that young head; and yet, Maggie, yet--surely Priscilla can dobetter?"
"What do you mean? How can she possibly do better?"
"She can wear a nobler crown. You know, Maggie, there are crowns to bewon which cannot fade."
"Oh!" Maggie's lips trembled; she looked down.
After a pause, she said, "Priscilla told me something of her home andher family. I suppose she has also confided in you, Miss Heath?"
"Yes, my dear."
"Well, I have come to-night to say that it is in my power to use some ofthat money which I detest in helping Prissie--in helping her family. Imean to help them; I mean to put them all in such a position thatPriscilla shall not need to spend her youth in uncongenial drudgery. Ihave come to say this to you, Miss Heath, and I beg of you--yes, I begof you--to induce my dear Prissie to go on with her classical studies.It will now be in your power to assure her that the necessity which madeher obliged to give them up no longer exists."
"In short," said Miss Heath, "you will give Miss Peel of your charity,and take her independence away?"
"What do you mean?"
"Put yourself in her place, Maggie. Would you take money for yourselfand those dear to you from a comparative stranger?"
Maggie's face grew very red. "I think I would oblige my friend, my dearfriend," she said.
"Is Prissie really your dear friend?"
"Why do you doubt me? I love her very much. Since--since Annabel died,no one has come so close to me."
"I am glad of that," replied Miss Heath. She went up to Maggie andkissed her.
"You will do what I wish?" asked the girl, eagerly.
"No, my dear: that matter lies in your hands alone. It is a case inwhich it is absolutely impossible for me to interfere. If you caninduce Priscilla to accept money from you, I shall not say a word; and,for the sake of our college, I shall, perhaps, be glad, for there is notthe least doubt that Prissie has it in her to win distinction for StBenet's. But, on the other hand, if she comes to me for advice, it willbe impossible for me not to say to her--`My dear, character ranks higherthan intellect. You may win the greatest prizes and yet keep a poor andservile soul. You may never get this great earthly distinction, and yetyou may be crowned with honour--the honour which comes of uprightness,of independence, of integrity.' Prissie may never consult me, ofcourse, Maggie; but, if she does, I must say words something like these.To tell the truth, my dear, I never admired Priscilla more than I didlast night I encouraged her to give up her classics for the present, andto devote herself to modern languages, and to those accomplishmentswhich are considered more essentially feminine. As I did so I had apicture before me, in which I saw Priscilla crowned with love, thesupport and blessing of her three little sisters. The picture was avery bright one, Maggie, and your crown of bay looks quite tawdry besidethe other crown which I hope to see on Prissie's brow."
Maggie rose from her chair. "Good-night," she said.
"I am sorry to disappoint you, my love."
"I have no doubt you are right," said Maggie, "but," she added, "I havenot made up my mind, and I still long for Priscilla to wear the crown ofbay."
"You will win that crown yourself, my dear."
"Oh, no, it is not for me."
"I am very anxious about you, Maggie. Why do you speak in that recklesstone? Your position and Prissie's are not the least alike: it is yourduty to do your very utmost with those talents which have been bestowedupon you."
br /> "Perhaps," answered Maggie, shrugging her shoulders, "but I am tired ofstretching out my hand like a baby to catch soap-bubbles. I cannotspeak of myself at all to-night, Miss Heath. Thank you for what youhave said, and again good-night."
Maggie had scarcely left the room before Priscilla appeared.
"Are you too tired to see me to-night, Miss Heath?"
"No, my love; come in and sit down. I was sorry to miss you thismorning."
"But I am glad as it turned out," replied Priscilla.
"You were