Very much mystified the girls returned to their desks. Miss Janet departed, and Lorraine ran down to effect the required change. She could not understand Miss Janet's fussy solicitude for her health. She did not remember that the form had ever been examined thus for damp feet. She could only conclude that Miss Janet, who was apt to take sudden whims, had been studying a treatise on hygiene. At eleven o'clock she had a further surprise. Miss Paget brought her a message telling her to report herself to Miss Kingsley in the study. Wondering what was the matter, she answered the summons at once. She found Miss Kingsley and Miss Janet sitting together at the table with trouble writ large on their faces. The mental atmosphere of the room cut her like a knife, it was so unmistakably hostile.
"Lorraine," began Miss Kingsley sternly, "I've sent for you to ask you a straight question, and I expect a straight answer. Did you to-day bring to school a letter addressed to—er—a member of the opposite sex?"
Utterly amazed, Lorraine hesitated, then, remembering her note to Morland, replied;
"Yes, Miss Kingsley."
She wondered how the head mistress had got to know about it. Had Claudia been so careless as to leave it inside her exercise-book?
Miss Kingsley's glance was hypnotic in its intensity. The corners of Miss Janet's mouth twitched nervously.
"I'm glad you are candid enough to confess it, though I have ample proof against you. You, Lorraine! You, whom I chose as head girl, and leader for the rest of the school! I've never been so bitterly disappointed in anybody!"
Miss Kingsley's voice trembled as she spoke.
"You might at least have the grace to look ashamed of yourself!" added Miss Janet.
Lorraine was staggered, but not ashamed. She could not see that the occasion warranted such sweeping condemnation.