Marion Berkley

ion to Florence, as they were sitting t

you mean?

; no, not exactly a plan;-I have

do you know just what

xact form of words, but I have got my ideas together, and I re

h she had heretofore shown whenever she had spoken of the coming apology. In fact she looked rather tr

you are up to something! Do tell me what

ut in a tone which said plainly enough that

you needn

don't mean to do," pro

with it!" and Florence tossed her own work on to the bed, and, catching hold of Ma

ends on my telling you anything particular to-d

with a confident, amused smile, and exclaimed, "Well, Flo, you look as sober as a judge. I really beli

se to apologize, and if you do, you will be worse off than you've been yet;"

re. I mean to apologize before the whole school, a

ou know; but I was afraid you would try to get rid of it

all do it in the most approved style. Co

ill a little suspicious of her friend's intention

exclaimed. "I've been hun

uch; we've been here ever since l

er, and make yourself a

d. Now, Marion, do tell me; have you deci

u can't get anything out of

u mean to tell

N

re! I tell you what it is, Flo, she means to

stonished, for I don't believe they kn

it," said Julia. "So much for kn

first time you could be accused

r tongue about Aunt Bettie's do

ly put in Marion; "put it down, Juli

Julia, in a deprecating tone. "Do you

rved as Marion, but I never heard any one accuse you of telling what

ully easy to tease; but I confess it was a very poor reward for your silence of the past two da

t at this rather equivocal consolation,

; for it was French day, and consequently only the second appearance of M. B

shed Miss Stiefbach and her sister good-morning, was about

ut I must trouble you to r

his usual grace, and Mi

ken place in this school. One of my young ladies has done that which makes me deem it necessary to exact a public apology fr

be a meestake-I am a perfect stranger; if you will have the goodness to excuse me, I shal

one particular clause of her punishment was, that it should be ma

ooked from one to another, and then at the group on the platform, with faces expressive of the most intense astonishment, proving how wholly unsus

stressed, and twirled his watch-chain in a very nervous manner. Miss Christine had retired to the extreme end of the platform, and was

ess her friend's disgrace. Marion advanced quietly up between the rows of d

glowed with a strange light; but the expression of her face would have baffled the most scrutinizing observer. Calm, q

M. Béranger evidently does not know how he is concerned in thi

d Marion, turning towards the bewild

that they might get a good view of him. Our interest was of course doubly increased when we saw the gentleman enter this garden. His whole appearance was so decidedly elegant (here M. Béranger, who began to see that he was the subject of her remarks, col

ent ran round the room. Miss Stiefbach looked hard at Marion, but her face was composed, and her manner

roper in me to make, and which justly gave so much offence to Miss Stiefbach." (Here Marion turned towards her teacher, who, as if to encourage her to proceed, bowed quite graciously.) "I was standing on the seat in the window, and consequently had the best view of the gentleman. In the excitement of the moment, regardless of the difference in our ages, a

handsome man, or indeed for her to look at a man at any time with any degree of interest, could only be appreciated by those who

Apolo

nly very much interested in something out in the back yard; and the school-girls

lected, looking at Miss Stiefbach

or her usual composure. The sudden turn of Marion's apology, which placed her in such

ould have thought she intended a fresh insult; but throughout the whole her bearing had been unusually quiet, ladylike, and polite. There was no tangibl

not; she passed all her school-mates, whose faces were turned towards her brimming with laughter and a keen appreciation

ked round her, exclaiming, "Oh! it was to

ean?" coolly r

uraged admirer of Marion's, "the way yo

mistaken; I simply apologized to h

re Florence and Julia were already giving vent to their long

mile, which caused Julia to ejaculate in her most earnest manner, "I declare, Marion, you don't look

o be sure I have had my revenge, and the only satisfaction I've g

ly are the queerest girl I e

said nothing, for she understood her fee

erself, and in that way to have her revenge for what she rightly considered her very unjust punishment. She

s Stiefbach and ask her forgiveness. But Miss Christine told her, that, although she heartily disapproved of her conduct, she thought nothin

Marion could never fully satisfy

whole thing from beginning to end; and received one in

s amusement and enjoyment of the whole matter, and highly co

crushed, when the inward fires which she longed