“Augusta doesn’t seem too strong,” said the Captain. “I have heard of several headaches lately.”
“She is a very queer girl, and I don’t understand her,” said Miss Roy.
“After all, Miss Roy,” said the Captain, “she must be a very good girl, for beyond doubt she will be the happy possessor of the Royal Cross to-night.”
“You don’t say so! I am amazed!” answered the governess.
“To tell the truth, I am amazed myself, and a little disappointed. It is wrong to say it, but I am. Still, there is no question with regard to the matter. Augusta is the only one of the little battalion who has not had a single bad mark for conduct.”
“I am sure poor Nora and Kitty have tried their best,” said Miss Roy, standing up for her pupils, as was natural.
“Just so. I am sure you are right. Nevertheless, the poor mites have little gray marks for carelessness, untidiness, forgetfulness, registered against them on several occasions.”
“Yes,” said Miss Roy, “that is true. I have entered those marks myself, and regret having had to do so.”
“What else could you do?” said the Captain. “If there was anything in my little scheme, absolute truth and justice were essential.”
“What about Nancy?” said Miss Roy, fixing her eyes on the Captain’s face.
“Nancy!” said the Captain. “Don’t you remember?”
“Remember? Oh yes! Could I forget? But I had hoped”——
“That some explanation had been arrived at. How is it possible to credit a child like Nancy with cruelty?”
But then Miss Roy recalled the incident of the starving canary, and her voice faltered as she spoke.
“There is no explanation,” said Captain Richmond. “I feel nearly wild about it, I assure you. I have thought over the matter until my head ached; but the entry was made by my sister-in-law, a woman who does not make mistakes. It is impossible there could be anything wrong in the entry. What Nancy did we don’t know, but that mark takes away even the remotest chance of her winning the Royal Cross.”
“Then you will tell her,” said Miss Roy; “you will at least give her a chance of explaining, if any explanation is possible?”
“Yes; I shall have to speak of it at the time. It will be a painful moment, but it is only just to the little girl.”
“I feel certain,” said Miss Roy, “that Nancy will be able to put matters right.”