"How hardened she must be to choose that verse!" thought Miss Meeks. But Miss McPherson and Miss Jessy exchanged a glance which said, "She is innocent, whoever is guilty." Antoinette was unfortunate. She had opened hastily to the same Psalm, and, keeping her Bible in her lap (for she had quite forgotten to learn a verse), she read the first her eye fell upon: "The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous is merciful, and giveth." (Ps. 37:21.) Calista's eyes brightened and her color deepened beautifully as she repeated: "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth." (John 1:45.) There was a short silence after Miss McPherson's prayer, is which she asked that the innocent might be justified and the guilty led to confession and amendment. Then she made a little speech. She said most of those before her had heard of the loss of the needle-case from Miss Stanfield's desk, and the suspicion which had fallen on one of their number. If the matter had not become public already, she should not have made it so, but she hoped all would suspend their judgment. Then she asked, "Can any one throw any light on this matter?" Then, as no one else said anything, Calista spoke modestly: "Miss McPherson, there is one point at least in which Mary Burns can be cleared. She said that she saw Antoinette come out of the school-room at a quarter to nine, but Miss Meeks thought she must be wrong, because Antoinette went away before eight." She paused and looked at Antoinette, who gave her a vengeful glance in return. "Well, what then?" asked Miss McPherson, after waiting a moment for Antoinette to speak. "Tessy told me that her cousin came back because some accident happened to the horse," answered Calista. "Antoinette staid in Tessy's room till just before the quarter bell rung, and then went to the school-room, or so Tessy thought. So Mary might have seen her, as she said." "Is this true?" asked Miss McPherson of Antoinette. "Yes, ma'am," answered Antoinette, temper and the wish for revenge getting the better of her prudence. "I did not mean to say anything, but, since Miss Stanfield seems determined to throw the blame upon me, I must tell the whole story. I was in the school-room a moment, my skirt came untied, and I stepped behind the study door to fasten it. As I stood there, I saw Mary Burns come into the room and look into Miss Stanfield's desk. She turned the things over till she found something, and dropped it into her inside pocket. Then she took a book, shut the desk, and went hastily out." "You did not see what she took?" said Miss McPherson. "No, ma'am. It was something pretty heavy, which pulled her pocket down, and jingled a little." "What do you say to this, Mary Burns?" asked Miss McPherson, turning to her.