He made his adieux to Miss North very charmingly, however, thanking her for her hospitality; and Blue Bonnet left him at the reception-room door, conscious that broncho busting, and other things incident to ranch life, had not made any serious inroads on his native good breeding.
"Now, Carita, tell me all of it--everything you heard. Come on, I think I ought to know."
Blue Bonnet and Carita had been interrupted in the packing of their suitcases for a week-end at Woodford, by Annabel Jackson, who had stepped in Blue Bonnet's room to return a dress. Her presence had caused Carita to let slip a bit of gossip prevalent in the school.
Carita squeezed a waist into the last bit of space her suitcase afforded, and turned to Blue Bonnet.
"Oh, what do you ask me for, Blue Bonnet? I don't like to tell you--really I don't! What's the use? Oh, dear, I wish I hadn't dropped that hint. I didn't mean to--it just slipped out."
"It's just gossip. Like enough there isn't a word of truth in it."
"All right, then: Mary Boyd says that Annabel Jackson is a perfect little toady--that she always finds out if a girl has money and nice clothes and things, before she has anything to do with her. She says Annabel has found out that you have a great deal of money, and that's one reason she's so nice to you."
"But I haven't a great deal of money--not to spend here, anyway. I haven't any bigger allowance than Annabel has--or Sue, for that matter!"
"Yes, but it's got out about your ranch; that you have a lot coming to you some day--and--and that you brought me here--that you're paying my way--"
"Who told that? That's my business and Uncle Cliff's--entirely!"
"You said something about being responsible for me when I was sick. I reckon the girls put two and two together and started the story. I can't think how else it got out."
Blue Bonnet put her arms round Carita and gave her a swift hug.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Carita. It must make you feel--horrid!"
"Not a bit," Carita answered cheerfully. "Everybody knows that a poor clergyman's daughter would never get in a school like this without some help. It was splendid of you to do it. I don't mind any one's knowing. Honestly I don't, Blue Bonnet. Don't be angry."
Blue Bonnet sat down limply in a chair and covered her face with her hands.