one could
possibly think that I had done it. Poor little thing! She is so scared
that she hardly knows what she is doing. Did you notice her face at
breakfast? Did you hear about the accident when you came in last night,
or who told you first?"

"I only saw the teachers last night, but Mademoiselle was crying, and I
knew something was wrong. Then Pixie came to my room this morning to
bring me back my collar, and she told me. It seems that she is
suspected because she won't tell why she was in Mademoiselle's room.
It's very stupid of her! There can't be any great mystery about it, one
would think, though she wouldn't tell even me; but if she says she
didn't break the bottle, I think she ought to be believed. She has
always been truthful, so far as we know."

"Yes, but then we haven't known her long, and she has never been in a
corner before. It is easy to tell the truth when all is going smoothly,
but it's rather dreadful when you know quite well you are going to be
punished; and if you let the first moment pass it's fifty times worse,
because then you have been deceitful as well. What I'm afraid of is
that she was too frightened to own up last night--you know what a scarey
little thing she is--and that now she is determined to be obstinate and
brave it out!"

Lottie hitched her shoulder with an impatient movement which drew her
arm free from her companion.

"Well, I'm fond of Pixie O'Shaughnessy, and I am going to stick to her,
whatever happens! It's mean of Mademoiselle to make such a fuss about
an accident which nobody could help. I'll buy her another scent-bottle
myself, if that will satisfy her. I have lots of money, and can get as
much more as I want. It's absurd making thirty people miserable for the
sake of a few pounds. I'll ask Miss Phipps if I may go into town and
buy one this very day."

"She wouldn't let you spend so much without your mother's consent, and
it's my belief Mademoiselle wouldn't take it if she did. It was the
association she liked, and you could not give her that. I'm fond of
Pixie too, but I shan't like her a bit if she gets us all into trouble,
and that's what it will mean if she is obstinate. We shall have all our
treats and holidays knocked off until the truth comes out. It is bound
to be discovered sooner or later, don't you think?"

"No, I don't! Lots of things are never discovered, and the holidays
will be here in a month, thank goodness! It will have to drop