Part 34 (1/2)
”How ridiculous!” chuckled Bess.
”It is no laughing matter, girls,” said Nan, with gravity.
”What isn't; the maxim?” cried Bess.
”No. Linda's loss.”
”Pooh! What do I care?” scoffed Bess. ”I'm wasting no tears over Linda.”
”But that lovely necklace!” cried Nan.
”It was a beauty,” admitted Laura.
”Oh! her father won't mind. He has more money than anybody else in the world--to hear her tell it,” laughed the heartless Bess.
”She can't help being foolish, I suppose,” added Laura.
”She showed how silly she was by wearing the necklace,” Bess declared.
”Maybe a burglar saw it; and followed her home, and stole it.”
Mrs. Cupp rang her bell sharply. ”Young ladies!” she exclaimed, when there was comparative silence. ”Young ladies! Attention! Miss Sherwood is wanted in Dr. Prescott's office at once.”
Many of the girls stared at Nan as she slowly arose, her breakfast partly eaten. More than one whisper went around the tables. One girl asked right out loud:
”Wonder what Dr. Prescott wants her for?”
”I know!” squealed the eager voice of one of the younger pupils. ”I came right past Linda Riggs' door, and I heard her say to Cora Courtney that she knew Nan stole that necklace!”
”Oh!” The exclamation was general. But Amelia Boggs' voice rose above the confusion.
”You miserable infant!” she cried. ”You ought to be spanked and put to bed for a week!”
”Young ladies!” came in Mrs. Cupp's stern voice, ”less confusion, please!”
Nan had risen in some trepidation to go to the princ.i.p.al's study. But the suggestion that she was wanted because Linda had lost her necklace almost bound her feet where she stood. It seemed to Nan as though she could not move.
”Nan! Nan!” cried Bess, jumping up, her face ablaze. ”It's a story, a wicked story! They sha'n't treat you so!”
Her arm was over Nan's shoulders and she was crying, frankly. Mrs.
Cupp's voice again was heard above the noise.
”Elizabeth! Sit down!”
The reckless Bess paid no attention to the command, but went on with Nan to the door. This flagrant disobeying of the matron's order awed the other girls to silence.
Bess left her chum in the hall and came back, her eyes streaming.
”I don't care what you do to me, Mrs. Cupp, so there!” she sobbed.
”Nan is shamefully abused. You can punish me all you want to, Mrs.