You understand what I say, my child ?" The punishment had come upon her.

Nothing worse than this had Ida imagined; nay, nothing so bad.

She drew in her breath, her fingers wreathed themselves violently together behind her back.

She half raised her face, but could not resolve to meet her teacher's eyes.

On the permission to go being repeated, she left the room in silence, descended the stairs with the slow steps of an old person, dressed herself mechanically, and went out into the street.