Part 27 (1/2)

But suddenly Nan, as well as some of the other girls, saw that the stern matron of Lakeview Hall had been crying. Her cheeks were tear-stained and she was still sobbing convulsively as she leaned, exhausted, with her back against the door.

Nan was instantly sympathetic, and cried aloud: ”What is the matter, Mrs. Cupp? What has happened?”

”I--I'm so frightened,” stammered the lady.

”Oh!” whispered Lillie, shrilly. ”She's seen the ghost.”

”My goodness!” moaned May, almost letting the red-haired girl fall to the floor.

But the latter, after all, was the one who rose to the occasion. Even Nan was too amazed to appreciate properly the fact that for once Mrs.

Cupp was in a melting mood.

”Give her a chair, Nan, do!” cried Laura, bestirring herself briskly.

”Something has surely upset her. The poor dear! Wish we had a cup of hot tea. But this chocolate is the next best thing to it.”

She poured a br.i.m.m.i.n.g cup and brought it to Mrs. Cupp, who had been seated at the long table. Before taking the first swallow the lady waved her hand toward the door.

”Lock it!” she gasped.

”It is locked,” Nan promptly a.s.sured her.

”You can bet it is!” exclaimed the crafty Laura. ”We don't want anybody coming in here who will _tell_ on us,” she added significantly.

Mrs. Cupp must have heard this, for she flushed as she drank the hot chocolate in great gulps. Or, perhaps, it was only the color coming back into her face, after her fright.

Nan asked, with real feeling: ”What was it scared you so, Mrs. Cupp?”

”I--I don't know,” stammered the matron.

”But it must have been something?”

”I'm not sure even of that,” was Mrs. Cupp's rather disconcerting reply.

”It was the ghost, then!” shrilled Lillie.

”Oh!” gasped Grace, and the two timid ones clung together in alarm and despair.

”Oh, shucks!” exclaimed Amelia Boggs. ”It won't break the door down to get in here, so don't be afraid.”

”I never was so frightened in my life,” declared Mrs. Cupp, drinking the last drop of the comforting liquid. ”Never!”

”Do tell us all about it, Mrs. Cupp,” urged the red-haired girl, hovering about the excited lady. ”And have another cup of chocolate; do!”

”Thank you,” replied Mrs. Cupp, with real grat.i.tude.

”Come, girls,” said the bustling Laura. ”The chocolate's all hot. Don't let it spoil. And the sandwiches and salad must be eaten to be saved.

Pull up your chairs. Won't you try this lovely salad, Mrs. Cupp? And these chicken sandwiches are delicious.”