But the friends of the visiting girls began to understand the opposition to Beth by her own party. They applauded Beth themselves, and when the game was over (and it was not such a bad beating the Rivercliff team received, after all, thanks to Beth’s good playing), every member of the opposing team insisted upon shaking hands with the girl who had fought them the hardest.
Almost everybody was late to supper that evening; but notably the losing team in the afternoon’s game, and Maude Grimshaw and several of her “Me toos.” In fact, Maude herself did not appear at all, and Miss Carroll slipped into her place at table.
“That table would have just buzzed if Carroll hadn’t sat there,” Molly Granger announced, when the meal was over and the girls were trooping upstairs to the general recreation room on the second floor.
The elements of the game that afternoon were busily discussed; but as several of the teachers were present right up to the time the half-past eight bell rang, when the girls retired to their rooms, any particular talk regarding Beth had to be postponed by either friends or enemies.
CHAPTER XXV
BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT
As for Beth herself, when she left the table, Miss Carroll spoke to her:
“See Miss Hammersly in the office at once, Miss Baldwin. It is imperative.”
“Yes, Miss Carroll,” Beth said, and went to the interview with apparent calmness.
Miss Hammersly was sitting under the shaded light at her desk, making notes upon a tablet. As Beth entered, the school principal arose quickly so that the shadow fell across her face, while the girl stood in the full glare of the lamp.
“Beth!”