Rhoda turned her head aside, and said no word, and Miss Bruce stood looking down at her in silence also. The curly hair was fastened back by a ribbon tied in the nape of the neck, and the profile was still visible leaning against the pillows. It was motionless, except for one tell-tale pulse above the ear which beat furiously up and down, up and down, beneath the drawn skin. The Principal looked on that little pulse, and laid her hand pitifully on the girl's head. "I will leave you now, Rhoda. You would rather be alone. I am truly sorry for you, but I am powerless to help. One can only pray that some good may come out of all this trouble." She left the room, and Rhoda was alone at last, to face the nightmare which had come into her life. Evie _lamed_, and by her doing! Evie injured for life by one moment's thoughtlessness--rashness--call it _wickedness_ if you will--even then it seemed impossible that it should be _allowed_ to have such lasting consequences! One moment's disobedience, and then to suffer for it all her life! to see Evie--dear, sweet, graceful Evie--limping about, crippled and helpless; to keep ever in one's mind the memory of that last wild run--the last time Evie would ever run! Could retribution possibly have taken to itself a more torturing form? She had spoiled Evie's life, and brought misery into a happy home. "I could have borne it if it had happened to myself," she gasped. "But no! I must needs get well, and be strong, and rich, and healthy. I suppose I shall laugh again some day, and forget, and be happy, while Evie--. I am a Cain upon earth, not fit to live! I wish I could die this minute, and not have a chance to do any more mischief." But we cannot die just because we wish to escape the consequences of our own misdoing; we are obliged to live, and face them day after day. Crises of suffering, moments of humiliation, stabbing returns of pain just when we are congratulating ourselves that the worst is over--they must be lived through, and though we fly to the ends of the world they will still follow in our wake.