Part 34 (1/2)
”Yes, send for them! I won't leave this room until Marian Seaton takes back every single thing she's said about me,” was Judith's wrathful ultimatum.
”I was about to suggest when you and Miss Allen interrupted me that I had thought it advisable to bring you girls together. Still, I deemed it only fair to let you understand the situation beforehand,” stated the matron rather stiffly. ”I have already sent Miss Seaton and Miss Gilbert word to come here at eight o'clock. It lacks only five minutes of eight.
They will be here directly. We will not go further in this matter until they come. You will oblige me by resuming your chairs.”
Mrs. Weatherbee's expression was that of a martyr. She was in for a very disagreeable session and she knew it. Marian's accusation against Judith made necessary an investigation. It had come to a point where Judith's honesty must be either conclusively proved or disproved beyond all shadow of doubt. If Judith, as Marian boldly declared, were really a kleptomaniac, she was a menace to Madison Hall.
Ordinarily Mrs. Weatherbee would have been slow to believe such a thing. The fact, however, that the silk sweater which she had intrusted to Judith to mail had never reached its destination, had implanted distrust in the matron's mind. To have recently learned that Judith had been exhibiting to her girl friends a sweater that answered to the description of the one she had knitted for her niece was decidedly in line with her private suspicions. Neither had she forgotten Judith's laughing a.s.sertion to the effect that she was not sure she could be trusted not to run off with the sweater.
Jane and Judith reluctantly reseating themselves, an embarra.s.sing silence fell. Each of the three girls was busy racking her brain to recall the circ.u.mstance of last year upon which Marian Seaton had based her charge. None could bring back any of that nature in which Marian had figured.
The sound of approaching footfalls, followed by a light knock at the door, came as a relief to the waiting four. Next instant Marian and Maizie had stepped into the room in response to the matron's ”Come in.”
A bright flush sprang to Marian's cheeks as she glimpsed the trio of stern-faced girls. She had not antic.i.p.ated being thus so quickly brought face to face with those she had maligned. Maizie appeared merely sleepily amused.
”Kindly be seated, girls.” Mrs. Weatherbee motioned them to an upholstered settee near the door.
Casting a baleful glance at Jane, Marian complied with the terse invitation. Maizie dropped lazily down beside her, her slow smile in evidence. Matters promised to be interesting.
”Miss Seaton,” the matron immediately plunged into the business at hand, ”you may repeat to Miss Stearns, Miss Allen and Miss Bennett what you have already told me concerning the affair of last year. Miss Stearns has been informed of your charges against her. She wishes to defend herself.”
”I certainly do,” emphasized Judith, ”and I shall make you take it all back, too, Miss Seaton.”
”I'm sorry I can't oblige you by taking it all back,” sneered Marian. ”I can merely repeat a little of a conversation that occurred between you and Miss Allen in which you condemned yourself.”
”Very well, repeat it,” challenged Judith coolly.
As nearly as she could remember, Marian repeated the talk between Jane and Judith, to which she had dishonorably listened on the night of the freshman frolic.
”You were heard to admit that you had stolen a gown from Edith Hammond,”
she triumphantly accused. ”That Edith blamed Miss Bennett and that she confessed you had stolen it. Also that Miss Allen settled for it and you all agreed to keep it a secret. Worse yet, you and Miss Allen only laughed and joked about what you called 'your fatal failing.' Deny if you can that you two had such a conversation.”
During this amazing recital the faces of at least three listeners had registered a variety of expressions. Marian's spiteful challenge met with unexpected results. Of a sudden the trio burst into uncontrolled laughter.
”Girls,” rebuked Mrs. Weatherbee sharply, ”this is hardly a time for laughter. Miss Stearns, do you or do you not deny that you and Miss Allen held the conversation Miss Seaton accuses you of holding?”
”Of course we did,” cheerfully answered Judith, her mirthful features sobering.
”Then you----”
”_We_ were in the dressing room on the night of the freshman frolic when it took place,” broke in Jane. ”May I ask where _you_ were, Miss Seaton, when you overheard it?”
Jane's gray eyes rested scornfully upon Marian as she flashed out her question.
”I--I wasn't anywhere,” snapped Marian. ”I--someone else overheard it.”
”Then 'someone else' should have taken pains to learn the truth before spreading malicious untruth,” tensely condemned Jane.
Turning to the matron, she said bitterly: