"Mary!" Carita exclaimed, "you wouldn't have listened, would you?"
"Oh, I don't know. Yes, I think I should if I'd had the chance. I'd like to know what's the matter--there's something, all right."
"Mary, you're so curious," remarked Peggy Austin from the couch. "It was a regular meeting, wasn't it?"
"Indeed it wasn't. Faculty's met on Tuesday since time began. Guess I ought to know. I've just escaped being up before it twice."
Blue Bonnet was silent. She could have enlightened Mary; but she guarded the secret of Joy Cross's trouble. Blue Bonnet had been called to Miss North's office just before Faculty convened, but not a word as to the outcome of Joy's difficulty had been mentioned. Miss North had merely told her what she already knew; that Joy had put the book in the drawer and that Blue Bonnet was exonerated from all blame. Miss North complimented her on her patience, as well as her silence. She wished the matter to be kept as quiet as possible.
Blue Bonnet had gone out of the office with a lighter heart than she had known in some days--and yet she was troubled for Joy. She hoped Joy would not be sent home--hoped it with all her heart; and once while Miss North was talking, she had almost ventured to speak with her about it; but it seemed rather presumptuous--as if Miss North might not quite understand her own business.
She was wondering as Mary spoke how it would all end, and a little frown wrinkled her brow.
"What's the matter with you, Blue Bonnet?" Mary asked. "You're as sober as a judge. They weren't discussing you in the meeting, were they?"
Blue Bonnet started. Mary had come so close to the truth that it brought the color to her cheeks.
"Oh, I just wager they were! Look how she's blushing."
"The very idea, Mary. What's Blue Bonnet done? You are the worst--"
"I know what's the matter with Blue Bonnet," Peggy Austin said. "She's _scared_ pink! She had better be, too. She's going to be initiated into the Lambs to-night. They won't do a thing to her! Why, when they took Angela Dare in, she had hysterics. They had to get a doctor for her. It nearly broke up their club. Miss North said it came near ending sororities for all time in the school."
"Oh, pooh," Mary scoffed. "Angela has no business in one anyhow. She's too emotional. One never knows what she's going to do. She has high strikes over exams--and just anything. Angela's only half human. She's like that Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe--or somebody who was so frail in body--"