“Yes, I found out that she never wrote the note in the classroom, and I mean to tell Mrs. Pangborn so, first thing in the morning. Miette was willing to go to her, herself, but I think it may be best for me to speak to Mrs. Pangborn first.”
“What on earth would Glenwood girls do without you?” asked Tavia, laughing. “You are a regular adjustment bureau.”
“Some one has to do it,” replied Dorothy simply.
“Why don’t you let them, then?” asked Tavia, just to tease her friend.
“A natural inclination to meddle,” remarked Dorothy, “keeps me going. I suppose I really should not monopolize the interesting work.”
“Oh, you’re welcome. I don’t happen to know any one who objects.”
But the work with which Dorothy was at present engaged was not so simple as she would have her friend believe.
In the first place, Miette’s troubles were not at all easy to handle. The girl was naturally secretive, and with the obligation of keeping her affairs entirely to herself (as she had explained to Dorothy those were her orders from someone) it was a difficult matter to understand just why she should “go to pieces” over the small happening of having lost a note.
Now Dorothy had at least found out that the note was not written contrary to school orders, so that would be one fact to Miette’s credit, whatever else might remain to her discomfort in the actual loss of the note.
Dorothy tried to think it out. She had a way of putting her brain to work on important matters, and in this way she now went at the question seriously.
To be alone she left her room and slipped down to the chapel, which was deserted.
“I simply must think it out,” she told herself. “I must have some clear explanation to offer Mrs. Pangborn.”
Then she went over it all, from beginning to end.
Miette had suddenly become almost hysterical over the announcement made on initiation night. Then she tried to get back the note and found Nita had handed it over to Miss Bylow. This added to her anxiety. She declared she would have to leave Glenwood if the contents of the note became known. Then Dorothy learned that the charge against Miette was a mistake--that the note had been written before class time. But that was as far as Dorothy’s investigation went. Miette hinted that her friend was a working girl, but what could that matter? Dorothy had assured Miette that many of her own friends belonged to the working class.