“Hush!” said Maggie.  The pupils of her eyes dilated curiously; she put her hand before them.

“The fruits of my bad half-hours,” she murmured under her breath.  After a long pause, she said: 

“There is some truth in your words, Rosalind; I did help you to get into this false position.  I am sorry; and when I tell Miss Heath the whole circumstance—­ as I must to-morrow—­ you may be sure I shall not exonerate myself.”

“Oh, Maggie, Maggie, you won’t tell Miss Heath!  If you do, I am certain to be expelled, and my mother—­ my mother will die; she is not over strong just now, and this will kill her.  You cannot be so cruel as to kill my mother, Maggie Oliphant, particularly when you yourself got me into this.”

“I did not get you into this,” retorted Maggie.  “I know I am not blameless in the matter; but could I imagine for a moment that any girl, any girl who belonged to this college, could debase herself to steal and then throw the blame on another.  Nancy Banister has told me, Rose, how cruelly you spoke to Priscilla—­ what agony your cruel words cost her.  I did wrong, I own, but no act of mine would have tempted another girl to do what you have done.  Now, stop crying; I have not brought you here to discuss your wickedness with you.  I shall tell the whole circumstance to Miss Heath in the morning.  It is my plain duty to do so, and no words of yours can prevent me.”

With a stifled cry Rosalind Merton again fell on her knees.

“Get up,” said Maggie, “get up at once, or I shall bring Miss Heath here now.  Your crime, Rosalind, is known to Miss Day and to Miss Marsh.  Even without consulting Miss Heath, I think I can take it upon me to say that you had better leave St. Benet’s by the first train in the morning.”

“Oh, yes—­ yes! that would be much the best thing to do.”

“You are to go home, remember.”

“Yes, I will certainly go home.  But, Maggie, I have no money—­ I have literally no money.”

“I will ask Priscilla Peel to go with you to the railway station, and I will give her sufficient money to pay your fare to London—­ you live in London, don’t you?”

“Yes, at Bayswater.”

“What is your address’’

“19 Queen Street, Bayswater.”

“Priscilla shall telegraph to your mother, when you start, and ask her to meet you at King’s Cross.”

Rosalind’s face grew paler and paler.  “What excuse am I to give to mother?” she asked.

“That is your own affair; I have no doubt you will find something to say.  I should advise you, Rosalind, to tell your poor mother the truth, for she is certain to hear all about it from Miss Heath the following morning.”

“Oh, what a miserable, miserable girl I am, Maggie!”

“You are a very miserable and sinful girl; It was a wretched day for St. Benet’s when a girl such as you are came to live here.  But I don’t want to speak of that now, Rosalind; there is something you must do before you leave.”