person; but I am quite as certain as I am standing here that she is not.
I have watched Irene for some time; and although she did all kinds of
naughty things--very naughty things--months ago, she has abstained from
anything of the kind for some time. In short, I believe her to be
innocent, and I am going to ask her a direct question to that effect.
Now, I shall believe her word, for with all her sins she never told a
lie yet. Irene, were you the cause of Agnes Frost's terrible shock?"

"I was not," said Irene stoutly. She stood up as she spoke, and Rosamund
went up and took her hand.

"Then some one else has done it. I believe Irene's word."

"And so do I," said Laura Everett.

"And so do I," said Annie Millar.

"And I also," exclaimed Agnes Sparkes.

But Phyllis Flower and Lucy Merriman were silent.

"Phyllis, what is your opinion?" said Rosamund suddenly. "Don't hesitate
now. If you or any one else in this school has been tempted to commit a
dastardly and wicked deed, don't let the thought that you may have
caused a child to die rest on your conscience for all your days. You
will be miserable. Had you or had you not anything to do with the fright
which little Agnes received?"

"Oh!" said Phyllis; and she suddenly left her seat and fell on her
knees. She covered her face with her hands; she swayed backwards and
forwards. "Oh, I know--I know! I can't help myself. I did it."

"You did it--you?" said Rosamund sternly.

"Phyllis!" cried Lucy.

"Phyllis, you must speak up. The child's life is at stake. You must
speak out and tell the truth."

"Then I will," said Lucy in a defiant tone. "I didn't know you were such
a coward, Phyllis."

"Yes, I was a coward," said Phyllis. "I will tell my part of it. I did
want a week in London, and I was tempted, and I put the hedgehog into
Agnes's bed."

"You yourself did that? You did that yourself--alone?"

"That is all I am going to tell."

"Then I will tell the rest," exclaimed Lucy. "I made her do it. I was
jealous of you, Rosamund, and I always hated you, and I was even more
jealous of that horrid Irene and her love for Agnes. I only thought that
I would punish her and you by taking Agnes away from her, and I think I
have succeeded; but I never thought it would make Agnes ill. I am very,
very, very sorry for that;" and, to the surprise of everybody, Lucy, the
proud, the haughty, the reserved, burst into tears.

No one took much notice of her tears, for all eyes we