This was done in profound silence; and the
expression of Mrs. Knight's face was so direful and solemn, that a fresh
damp fell upon the spirits of the guilty Rivers, and Father Ocean wished
himself thousands of miles away.
When all was in order again, and the girls had taken their seats, Mrs.
Knight made a short speech. She said she never was so shocked in her
life before; she had supposed that she could trust them to behave like
ladies when her back was turned. The idea that they could act so
disgracefully, make such an uproar and alarm people going by, had never
occurred to her, and she was deeply pained. It was setting a bad example
to all the neighborhood--by which Mrs. Knight meant the rival school,
Miss Miller having just sent over a little girl, with her compliments,
to ask if any one was hurt, and could _she_ do anything? which was
naturally aggravating! Mrs. Knight hoped they were sorry; she thought
they must be--sorry and ashamed. The exercises could now go on as usual.
Of course some punishment would be inflicted for the offense, but she
should have to reflect before deciding what it ought to be. Meantime she
wanted them all to think it over seriously; and if any one felt that she
was more to blame than the others, now was the moment to rise and
confess it.
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