just and cruel!'

'Sarah, stand up; let me go, please,' said Lucy, unclasping the hands
from her waist. 'This is not right. Your father and mother both think
the same, and so do I. It is just that I should go--'

'You shan't say so! It is my crossness! I won't let you go. I'll write
to Peter! He won't let you go!' Sarah was really beside herself with
despair, and as her mother advanced, and would have spoken, turned round
sharply, 'Don't, don't, mamma; I won't come away unless you promise not
to punish her for my temper. You have minded those horrid, wicked,
gossiping ladies. I didn't think you would.'

'Sarah,' said Lucilla, resolutely, 'going mad in this way just shows that
I am doing you no good. You are not behaving properly to your mother.'

'She never acted unjustly before.'

'That is not for you to judge, in the first place; and in the next, she
acts justly. I feel it. Yes, Sarah, I do; I have not done my duty by
you, and have quarrelled with you when your industry shamed me. All my
old bad habits are come back, and your mother is right to part with me.'

'There! there, mamma; do you hear that?' sobbed Sarah, imploringly.
'When she speaks in that way, can you still--? Oh! I know I was
disrespectful, but you can't--you can't think that was her fault!'

'It was,' said Lucilla, looking at Mrs. Prendergast. 'I know she has
lost the self-control she once had. Sarah, this is of no use. I would
go now, if your mother begged me to stay--and that,' she added, with her
firm smile, 'she is too wise to do. If you do not wish to pain me, and
put me to shame, do not let me have any more such exhibitions.'

Pale, ashamed, discomfited, Sarah turned away, and not yet able to govern
herself, rushed into her room.

'Poor Sarah!' said her mother. 'You have rare powers of making your
pupils love you, Miss Sandbrook.'

'If it were for their good,' sighed Lucilla.

'It has been much for her good; she is far less uncouth, and less
exclusive. And it will be more so, I hope. You will still be her
friend, and we shall often see you here.'

Lucilla's tears were dropping fast; and looking up, she said with
difficulty--'Don't mind this; I know it is right; I have not deserved the
happy home you have given me here. Where I am less happy, I hope I may
keep a better guard on myself. I thought the old ways had been
destroyed, but they are too strong still, and I ought to suffer for
them.'

Never in all her d