Briarwood Girls

  CHAPTER VIII

  IN MISS HARLAND'S OFFICE

  Two very frightened girls presented themselves at the door of MissHarland's office the next morning.

  They showed their feeling very differently. Rosalind was trembling andweeping, the picture of grief; but Marcia's dark face was settled intoan expression of sullen determination not to speak. It might have beencarved out of stone as she stood with her lowering brow, and sombre darkeyes fixed on the floor.

  Miss Harland looked at them very gravely and sadly. Marcia's eyes wereraised presently with a defiant and stubborn expression that wasunpromising. Rosalind did not look up at all. She was frankly crying. Atlast Miss Harland spoke.

  "I am sorry to have to send for you, girls, but Miss Charlton hasreported that you were both absent without leave last night until alater hour than I like my girls to be out--especially withoutpermission. I must ask you, therefore, to give me a full account of yourexpedition--where you went, and with whom. I am sorry you had notconfidence enough in me to tell me about it, and to ask my leave; butsince you have not done so, I must require an explanation, Marcia, youmay speak."

  But Marcia remained stubbornly silent, only looking up from under herdark brows with her sullen, defiant expression.

  After waiting a few minutes, Miss Harland turned to Rosalind.

  "You will not refuse to answer me, Rosalind? I think you have not foundme a hard mistress in the past, have you?"

  Rosalind could scarcely speak for tears. "Oh, no, Miss Harland. I'lltell you--what I can--"

  "Thank you. Then tell me at whose house you were, and what took youthere?"

  "It was a party. They invited Marcia, and said she could bring afriend."

  "And did she suggest that you come without permission?"

  "Oh, no. Miss Harland. She--she said she was glad you did not object--"

  Here Marcia gave a warning glance in Rosalind's direction, which was notlost on Miss Harland. "There was no harm in it," she muttered.

  "Then, Marcia, if there was no harm, why not have come and told me, andhad my leave to go openly?"

  "I thought you wouldn't let us," in a hoarse, defiant voice.

  Miss Harland was silent an instant. How could she make this girl, withher innately deceitful and secretive nature, understand where the wronglay?

  "And who escorted you there, and brought you back?" she asked.

  Rosalind answered, as Marcia seemed determined not to speak again.

  "Mrs. Marshall's son and another boy; I don't know his name. At least,they told us, but I can't remember."

  Miss Harland felt relieved. Rosalind's replies bore the stamp of truth.In fact, as Miss Harland knew, she was too simple and straightforward tobe other than truthful. Her mind did not work fast enough to concoct afalsehood; she was silly and easily led, but when it came to the point,she would blunder out the truth. Marcia, on the other hand, wasextremely secretive, and would rather weave a tangled web of evasionsthan give a clear and truthful answer. Miss Harland felt that there wassome confusion somewhere. Mrs. Marshall was a good friend of her. Shecould be sure that she would not have countenanced any underhanddealing. Why, then, did Marcia wish to conceal the fact of theinvitation? She was puzzled, but relieved that the affair was no worsethan a schoolgirl's natural love of a secret adventure. But it would notdo to pass it over lightly.

  "And so you thought to deceive me, and slipped out without mypermission. Don't you see, Marcia, that _there_ is where the harm lies?I must not pass over such an infringement of the school regulations, andso I must punish you both. You will be restricted for one month, oruntil after Christmas. And the next time you wish to go out, come to mefrankly and ask permission. If possible, I will grant it; and if I donot see fit, I shall expect you to submit cheerfully to my decision inthe matter. Now you may go to your classes."

  Marcia left the room without a word, looking like a thunder cloud.Rosalind lingered, sobbing, to speak the words of contrition for whichMiss Harland had been waiting.

  "Please forgive me, Miss Harland. I'm sorry--so sorry, truly. I'll neverdo it again. It wasn't a bit of fun, anyway, for I didn't like goingwithout leave, and I was scared all the time that somebody wouldrecognize us. I don't like doing things in that underhand way; itfrightens me. I knew all the time it was wrong, but I let Marciapersuade me. It was my own fault, and I'm sorry. Forgive me."

  The pretty face was very pleading as Rosalind looked up with blue eyesdrowned in tears. Miss Harland's kiss of forgiveness was ready, as sheput her arm around the repentant sinner and drew her close into her kindarms.

  "I forgive you, Rosalind, but there is Another whose pardon you mustask," she said tenderly.

  "You mean God. I will, indeed, Miss Harland. I have already, and I willagain," promised Rosalind.