School-Days in 1800

ELMINA stayed up stairs for a week and then resumed her place in the family and school-room. I had dreaded meeting her, thinking how ashamed and mortified she must be, but she did not seem so at first. She only looked hard and sullen. Aunt Belinda made her beg my pardon for the robbery, and she did so without any more apparent feeling than if she had been saying an ordinary lesson.

When we were left alone together, I felt very much embarrassed. I wanted to go on talking as usual, but I did not know where to begin.