Hannah's Journey Read Online Free PDF

at her desk grading the earlier papers.
    Hannah found the test easy. She read each problem, then wrote her answers. Hannah finished before Miss Trent called time.
    “Time’s up, boys and girls. I know you all did your very best. The grades should be ready tomorrow.” Collecting the papers, Miss Trent had turned to walk back to her desk when a voice called out to her, “Miss Trent, wait! I think you’d better see this. Hannah Monroe cheated on the arithmetic test.” The voice belonged to Rosie.
    Everyone gasped and looked at Hannah, who stared at Rosie in amazement. What could Rosie possibly mean?
    Miss Trent came back down the aisle. “What do you mean, Rosie? Why do you say that?”
    “Look!” Rosie said, pointing downward. “There’s a piece of paper sticking out of that thing she wears on her leg. I saw her looking at it during the test and afterward she put it back when she finished.”
    Miss Trent watched as Hannah reached for the paper tucked between the clasps of her brace. Holding it in her hand, Hannah looked from Miss Trent to Rosie.
    “I’m sure it’s nothing, Rosie,” Miss Trent said. “Hannah, will you show me the paper?”
    Mystified, Hannah handed the paper to her teacher wondering how it got there.
    Unfolding the paper, Miss Trent glanced at it for a few moments. Her face paled. “These are the answers to the arithmetic test we just completed. How did you get this paper, Hannah?”
    Hannah couldn’t speak. She looked at Rosie and saw the triumphant expression on her face. Suddenly, she knew why the girls had befriended her. They wanted to betray her!
    “Class, you’re dismissed. Hannah, I’d like for you to stay, please,” said Miss Trent. When the others had left, Hannah buckled the brace around her leg and limped toward Miss Trent’s desk.
    “Can you explain this, Hannah?”
    “No, Miss Trent, I can’t. But I didn’t cheat. I don’t know how the answer sheet got in my brace.”
    Miss Trent looked at her for a long moment. “I’ll have to talk to the principal when he returns tomorrow, and the Logans will have to know. I will call on them tonight after dinner. Will you tell them I’ll be there about seven?” Hannah nodded, and left the room.
    She hung her head in shame, knowing she was innocent, but not knowing how to prove it. She left the building, her face burning. Some of her classmates had stayed in the yard, waiting to see her. As she walked by the little groups she saw fingers point and heads lean together as they whispered to each other about her. Reaching the carriage, she climbed in.
    “Well, Hannah, how did the exams go?”
    At that, Hannah’s lips began to tremble and she blinked back tears. “Can it wait until we get home, Uncle David? I need to talk to you and Aunt Margaret.” Looking troubled, Uncle David nodded. The ride home was silent, with neither of them speaking again.
    Arriving home, David went to put the carriage away while Hannah made her way inside. Her heart lay heavy with the news she must bring the family who had been so generous to her.
    David Logan followed her in and called to his wife. Margaret Logan came down the stairs, followed by Caroline. Both smiled in greeting until they saw the serious expressions on the faces of Hannah and David.
    “What’s the matter?” Aunt Margaret’s hands fluttered. “Is someone hurt or ill?”
    “No, dear, it’s just that Hannah has something to tell us. I believe it concerns today’s examinations at school.”
    Aunt Margaret perched on the edge of the settee, while Uncle David took a straight chair. Hannah felt alone as she sank into the rose colored armchair.
    “Please tell us what happened, Hannah,” coaxed Aunt Margaret.
    “Miss Trent thinks I cheated on the arithmetic test,” she blurted out. The feeling of shame returned as Hannah’s hands flew to cover her face.
    “Oh, Hannah, how could your teacher think that? You’re such a good student. Why on earth did she think you cheated?” Aunt