“I believe you, Elizabeth,” said the matron, drily, preparing to follow Nan Sherwood. “I will attend to your case later.”
In the principal’s office Nan found Linda in tears and Dr. Prescott looking very grave indeed.
“Do you know anything about the loss of Linda’s necklace, my dear?” the preceptress said kindly to Nan.
“No, Dr. Prescott,” whispered Nan, her face very white and her lips fairly blue.
“That is sufficient, Nancy. You are mistaken, Linda. And it is a mistake that can hardly be excused.”
“You just take her word for it!” cried Linda, wildly. “And my father will about kill me when he knows grandmother’s necklace is gone. She’s a——”
“That will do!” Dr. Prescott sternly warned her.
“I don’t care! She’s a pauper! Nobody else in the school is poor enough to want to steal. She tried to take my bag on the train——”
“No more of it!” commanded Dr. Prescott, rising angrily. “You are incorrigible, Linda. First of all, I want to know how you came to have the necklace to wear. Mrs. Cupp tells me she strictly forbade you to take it out of your trunk.”
Mrs. Cupp entered at that moment. “Here’s Henry,” she said shortly to the doctor. “He has something to show you.”