“Oh! these are the rooms they were to occupy,” cried Mrs. Holloway, all in a flutter. “I—I do not think they would do anything——”
“Say!” gasped Nettie, at last finding voice. “I want to know what yo’-all mean? Yo’ can’t be speaking of my friends?”
“Who is this girl, I’d like to know!” exclaimed Miss Miggs. “One just like them, no doubt.”
“Oh, Martha! Mrs. Parsons’ niece,” gasped Mrs. Holloway. “Mrs. Parsons will never forgive me.”
“Gracious heavens!” gasped one of the other women. “You don’t mean to say that these are the girls from Merredith?”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Holloway. “Of course, nobody believes that Miss Parsons would do any such thing; but these other girls are probably merely school acquaintances——”
“I should like to know,” said Nettie, with sudden firmness, “just what you mean—all of you? What have Ruth and Helen done?”
“They stole my railroad ticket on the boat coming down from New York,” declared Miss Martha Miggs.
“That is not so!” said Nettie, quickly. “Under no circumstances would I believe it. It is impossible.”
“Do you say that my cousin does not tell the truth?” asked Mrs. Holloway, stiffly, while Miss Miggs herself could only stammer angry words.