Peggy

usual before she ceased to toss in uneasy wretchedness and lay peacefully sleeping. When morning came, she woke, and for a moment greeted the bright day joyfully. T

d yet Peggy knew in her heart that there was no girl in the school who was so little likely to do this thing again as herself. She was by nature, as I have said, a law-abiding creature, with a natural reverence for authority. To have set the law at defiance was bad enough; to have done it secretly, and betrayed the trust that had been placed in her, that was worse! That was beyond possibility of pardon. Thus argued Peggy in her wretchedness; and all through the morning she went over it again and again, and yet again, seeing no help or comfort anywhere. Bertha Haughton,

relief when th

Russell would like to

but no! the Principal's gray eyes were as kind as ever, her smile as gravely sweet, as she said, pleasantly, "Good morning, Miss Mo

with it, and then get away to her own room. But there was no disregardi

aid Miss Russell. "I am going to

, but said nothing, onl

now occupy. The girl who occupied it was-was wild and undisciplined, and took pleasure in breaking bounds, and in inducing ot

and looked at Peggy,

hose wild pranks (undertaken in mere thoughtlessness, I am glad to think, and not with any evil intent), and

s silent. What could she say? Beside

silent, Peggy. Do you know

ssell!" said

spoke was gone, the whole thing would die out; it is a distressing thing to warn a pupil against her schoolmates. Still, I feel that in this case I ought to have done so. I place entire confidence in you,

id "Margaret!" twice to herself.

strange and shaky,-"you are mistaken about me. I am not the kind of girl

was a

with whom did you go?" ask

ay that any o

s shoulder; "if I know anything at all of girls, you did not go alone, and you did not go of your own motion. And-P

ifference that is born of contempt; but the kind tone, the look of affectionate inquiry, the friendly hand on h

owever long it was, Miss Russell did not try to stop or check her, only stood by with her hand on the girl's shoulder, patting it now and then, or putting b

Peggy was trying to dry her tears, and the choking sobs were

actual contact and communion. But I have acquired a sort of sense,-I hardly know what to call it,-an insight by means of which I can tell pretty well what a girl's standard of li

azement; could she be

e of stolen fruit is sweet, and having once taste

nd the gasping excl

nce, when I tell you that there is no girl in the school to-day whom I could s

y raise her head again, and this time her e

he said, simply. "I had thought that myse

duty and of your position. Now, Peggy, I have a recitation, and we must part. I put you in charge of 'Broadway,' fully and freely. No one must come in, and no one must go out, by that wi

n and kiss the hem of her gown who had shown herself thus an angel of sympathy and kin

ays now," she said, simp

of joy and love and gratitude, it seemed as if she must break out into singing or shouting. Was ever any one so kind, so noble

ose Barclay, bent over her book, and crying bitterly. Nothing could hold Peggy back in that moment of exalta

o help me, once!" she said. "I am not likely to

ing to let me. I couldn't show you my example, and I wouldn't, and I never will; but

doing their best to silence the better voices within her. At length she stole a glance at Peggy's face, and there beheld such a shining expanse of goodwill and friendliness that Pride

. "Why, I do see. Why, I do be

Peggy. "Here, take the pen

, and felt like Wellington after Waterloo. Then, at Peggy's instigation, she tackled the actual less

been perfectly hateful to you, you know I have. I woul

uld," said Peggy

examining her benefactress more closely. "Peggy

my eyes out, and I never was so happy in