ffect you
half so much as the thought of the trouble which you have brought upon
your kind, good friend--"

It was coming now; it was coming at last! Rhoda's heart gave a wild,
fluttering leap; she looked up breathlessly into the unbending face.

"What is the trouble? I thought she was like me--stunned and shaken. I
never heard--"

"No, it is not at all the same. You had a slight concussion, from which
you have now recovered. Her injury is much more lasting. Her right
knee-cap was broken, and the doctors fear it will never be quite right
again. She will probably be lame for life."

Rhoda turned her head aside, and said no word, and Miss Bruce stood
looking down at her in silence also. The curly hair was fastened back
by a ribbon tied in the nape of the neck, and the profile was still
visible leaning against the pillows. It was motionless, except for one
tell-tale pulse above the ear which beat furiously up and down, up and
down, beneath the drawn skin. The Principal looked on that little
pulse, and laid her hand pitifully on the girl's head.

"I will leave you now, Rhoda. You would rather be alone. I am truly
sorry for you, but I am powerless to help. One can only pray that some
good may come out of all this trouble."

She left the room, and Rhoda was alone at last, to face the nightmare
which had come into her life. Evie _lamed_, and by her doing! Evie
injured for life by one moment's thoughtlessness--rashness--call it
_wickedness_ if you will--even then it seemed impossible that it should
be _allowed_ to have such lasting consequences! One moment's
disobedience, and then to suffer for it all her life! to see Evie--dear,
sweet, graceful Evie--limping about, crippled and helpless; to keep ever
in one's mind the memory of that last wild run--the last time Evie would
ever run! Could retribution possibly have taken to itself a more
torturing form? She had spoiled Evie's life, and brought misery into a
happy home.

"I could have borne it if it had happened to myself," she gasped. "But
no! I must needs get well, and be strong, and rich, and healthy. I
suppose I shall laugh again some day, and forget, and be happy, while
Evie--. I am a Cain upon earth, not fit to live! I wish I could die
this minute, and not have a chance to do any more mischief."

But we cannot die just because we wish to escape the consequences of our
own misdoing; we are obliged to live, and face them day after day.
Crises