Part 27 (1/2)

”Then suppose we go back to the woods--try Red Riding Hood?”

”Fine and dandy!” exclaimed Nita Brant. ”I'll be the wolf.”

”Because he was the only party who got in on the eating,” remarked Edna. ”Let me be the squire--and don't all speak at once for the grandmother's fate.”

”Think it over girls; think it over!” advised Nita. ”Back to the woods might not suit some of our rural friends. For my part I prefer--ahem!

Something tragic!”

”Beat Red Riding Hood for tragedy then,” challenged one of the group.

”Of all the atrocities--”

”And desperate deals--”

”To say nothing of the grandmother's night cap going in the mix up--”

And so they laughed it all off, and marveled that the mere mention of the old story should awaken such comment.

Dorothy seemed to enjoy the innocent sallies. It was pleasant to be with the jolly crowd again, and to feel something akin to the old happiness.

”What happened to Fiddle?” asked Amy Brook. ”I thought she would come back to cla.s.s when her pout wore off.”

”Pout?” repeated Dorothy. ”I met her in the hall and she seemed to be in great distress.”

”Shouldn't wonder,” remarked Nita. ”Any one who crosses swords with Miss Higley is bound to come to grief sooner or later. If I had been Fiddle I should have apologized at once--easiest way out of it with Higley.”

Dorothy was confused. She had no idea of the scene that had taken place in the schoolroom that morning between Miss Higley and Viola.

But as it was impossible for her to keep up with the run of school events lately, she ventured no more questions.

”When's Chrissy coming back?” asked Edna. ”I'm almost dead without her. Haven't had a single sc.r.a.p since she went. And I've got the greatest lot corked up ready to explode from spontaneous combustion.”

”I hope she'll be back before the end of this term,” answered Dorothy.

”I heard to-day her mother is entirely recovered.”

”Good for the mother! Also more power to her. I think I'll crawl up the skylight and do perfectly reckless stunts on the roof when Chrissy returns just to celebrate,” and suiting her words with the jubilant mood the girl waltzed away down the path, making queer ”jabs” at the inoffensive air that was doing its best to make life bright and pleasant for the girls at Glenwood.

CHAPTER XXII

MISS CRANE AND VIOLA

Viola Green was thoroughly upset. She had quarreled with Miss Higley.

She had more than quarreled with Dorothy. Mrs. Pangborn had told her plainly that if her story concerning Dorothy was found to be untrue she would have to leave Glenwood, for that story had touched on the fair name of a pupil of the school, to say nothing more. Having defamed the honored name of Dale made the matter of still greater importance.

What should she do? To leave Glenwood seemed to be the only answer to that oft-repeated question. But to get into Beaumonde required a clean record from the former academy, and would Mrs. Pangborn furnish such a record under the circ.u.mstances?

It was evening, and the other girls were probably enjoying themselves, visiting about and settling wherever there was the best prospect of fudge--the only confection students were allowed to make in their rooms.