"'If it was fitting to be said to one girl, it is fitting to be heard by all,' she said, inexorably. I have always thought that she was very dull not to see that it must have been some uncomplimentary personal remark--possibly about herself, for all she knew."
"Oh, I wish it had been!" broke in Cricket.
"I am very glad it wasn't. But we were well-trained girls in those days, and rarely thought of grumbling at anything our teachers did. We might not like them, but I don't remember talking about them much.
"'We are waiting,' she said, again, after a moment.
"'I _can't_ tell you before the class,' I repeated, obstinately. 'But I'll tell you by yourself. I'm ashamed I said it, anyway.'
"Perhaps Phoebe had noticed me glance at her, or perhaps she knew, more than we realized, that we sometimes made fun of her untidiness, for she suddenly said, good-naturedly:
"'Do tell what it is, if it's anything about me, I sha'n't care. I'd much rather go home and get my dinner.'
"'Was it about Phoebe?' asked Miss Abbie, instantly.
"To this point-blank question, I had to say 'Yes.'
"'Tell it,' urged Phoebe, good-naturedly.
"'Well, then,' I began, desperately,--but I could not say it. I hesitated, and then added, quickly:
"'I said I wondered how Phoebe Dawson always managed to keep herself looking so nice!'
"A little surprised look, then a laugh, went around the class. Every one knew that I was not speaking the truth, and I dare say Miss Abbie knew it herself. She cast a very sharp glance at me, but, nevertheless, dismissed the class. Every one surrounded me in the cloak-room, laughing, and teasing me about what I had said. But I only waited till Miss Sarah was at liberty, and then I went to her and told her the story. I was very angry, and in a state of great indignation against Miss Abbie, and finally I burst out with, 'She made me tell that lie, herself!'
"'Hush! my dear!' Miss Sarah said, gravely. 'If you think, you will see that the trouble was that your sense of politeness was stronger than your sense of truth. Again, if you hadn't broken the rule about whispering in class in the first place, nothing would have happened. So I think we won't blame Miss Abbie. I will tell her about it myself, and nothing more will be said about it to you.'