"You will be glad to hear," said Miss Rutherford, "that Harriet's
hurt is not as serious as we feared at first. But she will have to
stay at home for some days."

There was no motion. or reply.

"Do you know that I am quite afraid of you, Ida? I had no idea that
you were so passionate. Had you no thought what harm you might do
when you struck that terrible blow?"

But Ida could not converse; no word was to be got from her.

"You must go home now," went on the schoolmistress after a pause,
"and not come back till I send for you. Tell your mother just what
you have done, and say that I will write to her about you. You
understand what I say, my child?"

The punishment had come upon her. Nothing worse than this had Ida
imagined; nay, nothing so bad. She drew in her breath, her fingers
wreathed themselves violently together behind her back. She half
raised her face, but could not resolve to meet her teacher's eyes.
On the permission to go being repeated, she left the room in
silence, descended the stairs with the slow steps of an old person,
dressed herself mechanically, and went out into the street. Miss
Rutherford stood for some time in profound and troubled thought,
then sighed as she returned to her usual engagements.

The following day was Saturday, and therefore a half-holiday. After
dinner, Miss Rutherford prepared herself for walking, and left home.
A quarter of an hour brought her to a little out-of-the-way