Part 13 (2/2)
Polly made no reply, but started to leave the room. Tzaritza sprang to her side. Miss Sturgis interposed.
”Leave that dog where she is. Go back, you horrible beast,” and she raised her hand menacingly. Tzaritza was not quite sure whether the menace was intended for Polly or herself. In either case it was cause for resentment and a low growl warned against further liberties.
”Be careful, Miss Sturgis. Tzaritza thinks you are threatening me,” said Polly. It was said wholly in the interest of the teacher.
Miss Sturgis' early training and forebears had not been of an order to develop either great dignity, or self-control. Her ability to teach mathematics was undisputed. Hence her position in Mrs. Vincent's school, though that good lady had more than once had reason to question the wisdom of retaining her, owing to the influence which she exerted over her charges. The grain beneath did not lend itself to a permanent, or high polish, and it took only the slightest scratch to mar it. Polly's words seemed to destroy her last remnant of self-control and she turned upon her in a fury of rage. As she seized her by the arm and cried, ”Silence!” Polly whirled from her like a flash crying, ”Charge, Tzaritza!”
But it was too late, the 'hound had sprung to Polly's defense, only it was Polly's protecting arm into which Tzaritza's teeth sank. The girl turned white with pain. Instantly the beautiful dog relinquished her hold and whining and whimpering like a heartbroken thing began to lick the bruised arm. Then arose a hubbub compared to which the screams of which Miss Sturgis had complained had been infantile plaints. Lily Pearl promptly went into hysterics. Juno shrieked aloud and even the self-contained Stella cried out as she ran to catch Polly in her arms, for the girl seemed about to faint. But Miss Sturgis, now thoroughly terrified at the crisis she had brought to pa.s.s, called madly for help.
Helen's screams mingled in the pandemonium, for Helen had been brought hack from her romantic air castle with a rush.
Notwithstanding the fact that Mrs. Vincent's study was down one flight of stairs and at the other end of the building, she became aware of the uproar and her conversation with Peggy came to an abrupt pause. Then both hurried into the hall to see the tails of Horatio Hannibal Harrison's coat vanis.h.i.+ng up the broad stairway and to hear Fraulein Hedwig wailing, ”Oh ze house iss burning up _and_ down I am sure!”
Meanwhile upon the scene of action Polly had been the first to recover her wits. The skin had not been broken, for Tzaritza had instantly perceived her error and released her grip almost as soon as it was taken. But Miss Sturgis would not have escaped so easily, as well she knew, and her hatred for Tzaritza increased tenfold. When Mrs. Vincent and the others arrived upon the scene she broke into a perfect torrent of invective against the dog, but was brought to her senses by the Princ.i.p.al's quiet:
”Miss Sturgis, you seem to be a good deal overwrought. I will excuse you. You may retire to your room until you feel calmer.”
”Let me explain! Let me tell you what a horrible thing has happened!”
cried Miss Sturgis.
”When you are less excited I shall be glad to listen. Fraulein, kindly accompany Miss Sturgis to her room and call the housekeeper. Now, Polly, what is it?” asked Mrs. Vincent, for Polly was the center of the group of excited girls, though calmer than any of them.
”Tzaritza made a mistake and caught my arm in her teeth, that is all, Mrs. Vincent. But she has done no harm. It doesn't hurt much now; she did not mean to do it any way.”
”What!” cried Peggy, aghast, ”Tzaritza attacked _you_, Polly?”
Polly nodded her head in quick negative, striving to keep Peggy from saying more. But Tzaritza had crawled to Peggy's feet and was literally grovelling there in abject misery.
”Charge, Tzaritza!”
The splendid creature lay motionless. ”Polly, what happened?' demanded Peggy, once more the Peggy of Severndale and entirely forgetful of her present surroundings. Mrs. Vincent smiled and laying her hand gently upon Peggy's arm said:
”Don't embarra.s.s Polly, dear. Leave it to me.”
”Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Vincent. I forgot,” answered Peggy, blus.h.i.+ng deeply. Mrs. Vincent nodded forgiveness, then turning to Stella, asked:
”Were you here all the time, Stella?”
”Yes, Mrs. Vincent.”
”Then please tell me exactly what happened.”
Stella told the story clearly and quietly. When she ended there was a moment's hush, broken by Rosalie Breeze crying:
”And Tzaritza never, never would have done a single thing if Miss Sturgis hadn't lost her temper. She is forever scolding us about losing ours, but she'd just better watch out herself. I wish Tzaritza had bitten her!”
”Rosalie!”
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