ora's desk and tear up her real copy. It
was very unlucky Hester being in the room. Of course I never guessed
that, or I wouldn't have gone. That was the night we all went with Annie
to the fairies' field. I never meant to get Hester into a scrape, nor
Annie either, for that matter; but, of course, I couldn't be expected to
tell on myself."

Susan related her story in her usual monotonous and sing-song voice.
There was no trace of apparent emotion on her face, or of regret in her
tones. When she had finished speaking Mr. Everard was absolutely silent.

"I took a great deal of trouble," continued Susan, after a pause, in a
slightly fretful key. "It was really nothing but a joke, and I don't see
why such a fuss should have been made. I know I lost a great deal of
sleep trying to manage that twine business round my foot. I don't think I
shall trouble myself playing any more tricks upon schoolgirls--they are
not worth it."

"You'll never play any more tricks on these girls," said Mr. Everard,
rising to his feet, and suddenly filling the room and reducing Susan to
an abject silence by the ring of his stern, deep voice. "I take it upon
me, in the absence of your mistress, to pronounce your punishment. You
leave Lavender House in disgrace this evening. Miss Good will take you
home, and explain to your parents the cause of your dismissal. You are
not to see _any_ of your schoolfellows again. Your meanness, your
cowardice, your sin require no words on my part to deepen their vileness.
Through pure wantonness you have cast a cruel shadow on an innocent young
life. If that girl dies, you indeed are not blameless in the cause of her
early removal, for through you her heart and spirit were broken. Miss
Drummond, I pray God you may at least repent and be sorry. There are some
people mentioned in the Bible who are spoken of as past feeling. Wretched
girl, while there is yet time, pray that you may not belong to them. Now
I must leave you, but I shall lock you in. Miss Good will come for you in
about an hour to take you away."

Susan Drummond sank down on the nearest seat, and began to cry softly;
one or two pin-pricks from Mr. Everard's stern words may possibly have
reached her shallow heart--no one can tell. She left Lavender House that
evening, and none of the girls who had lived with her as their schoolmate
heard of her again.

CHAPTER L.

THE HEART OF LITTLE NAN.

For several days now Annie had lain unconscious in