"I should like to know what proof you mean, Miss Maitland?" said Honor, in a strained voice. "This letter," replied the mistress, producing Dermot's note. "It was found on your bedroom floor this morning by the upper housemaid, who brought it at once to me. It was given you, I find, by one of the under servants, who much regrets now that she was persuaded to deliver it secretly. It shows me, of course, your motive for taking the money." "But I did not take it!" said Honor. "I said before that I didn't see it, and I mean it." For answer Miss Maitland turned to Janie. "Janie Henderson, did Honor Fitzgerald leave her bedroom before five o'clock this morning?" Poor Janie whispered, "Yes", though the word almost choked her. That she, of all people, must be a witness against her friend seemed too cruel to be endured. "Did Honor mention to you where she was going?" "To the bathing cove." "And her errand?" "To meet her brother." "Did she say that she meant to take him the money he needed?" "I believe--yes--I remember she did," stammered Janie, almost bewildered by this cross-questioning. "Did she seem to you in any way conscious that she was doing wrong?" Janie paused. She recalled only too plainly Honor's words: "I'm sorry if it isn't all on the square, but Dermot was in a very tight place, and I felt bound to help him, even if I had to do something rather wrong". "I am waiting for your answer, Janie." "I--I--think she seemed--sorry!" "Did she mention to you where the money came from that she was taking to her brother?" "No, she said nothing about it." "That will do for the present, Janie. Now, Vivian, I wish you to tell me if you saw Honor Fitzgerald go along the hall early this morning?" "It looked like Honor; I could be nearly certain," faltered Vivian, rather hesitatingly. "It was, so you needn't mind saying so!" interrupted Honor, who had been listening attentively to this evidence. "I admit that I went out, and ran down to the beach, and met Dermot. I never wanted to deny that. But I certainly didn't even see the sovereign, much less take it." "Let us have the truth, Honor," urged Miss Maitland. "I believe that you yielded to a sudden temptation, and I am very sorry for you, since I think you did it entirely for your brother's sake. If you will confess now, I will promise to deal leniently with you." "I can't confess what I haven't done," said Honor. She had turned very white, but she did not flinch in the least. "Nevertheless, you handed money to your brother on the shore?" "Yes. I gave him a sovereign, but it was my own, and not yours." "Honor! Honor! It is no use holding to such a palpably false story. Where could you get a sovereign? You banked your pocket-money with me at the beginning of the term, like the rest of the girls; it was only a small amount, and you have spent it weekly."