So, I took them and ran into the cloak-room, and put
them in a locker that wasn't close to mine, and some in the
pocket of a coat that was hanging there. God knows I didn't know
whose it was. I just put them there--I was frightened----"
"And you let me go to prison for three years!" There was a menace
in Mary's voice under which the girl cringed again.
"I was scared," she whined. "I didn't dare to tell."
"But they caught you later," Mary went on inexorably. "Why didn't
you tell then?"
"I was afraid," came the answer from the shuddering girl. "I
told them it was the first time I had taken anything and they let
me off with a year."
Once more, the wrath of the victim flamed high.
"You!" Mary cried. "You cried and lied, and they let you off
with a year. I wouldn't cry. I told the truth --and----" Her
voice broke in a tearless sob. The color had gone out of her
face, and she stood rigid, looking down at the girl whose crime
had ruined her life with an expression of infinite loathing in
her eyes.
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