CHAPTER XXVIII
CAUGHT
It was lucky for Bess that Linda's father happened in at that moment, for Linda, in her rage at thus being found out, looked as though she would like to tear her enemy limb from limb.
As for Cora, she gave one horrified look at Bess, burst into tears, and fled from the room.
Mr. Riggs, who was not at all the pompous, conceited man that the girls at Lakeview Hall had come to think him, looked after Cora for a moment in surprise, then turned smilingly back to the two girls and asked Linda to introduce him to her friend.
For one electric moment it looked as though Linda were about to refuse. Then what little common sense she had coming to her rescue, she sullenly did as she was bid and Mr. Riggs began to ask a few casual questions of Bess about how she liked Florida, if she had been there before, and other questions, which Bess answered mechanically. Her eyes were upon Linda as she stood at a window with her back to the room, her fingers beating a nervous tattoo on the windowsill.
At last Bess managed to break away and was starting toward the door when she was surprised to find that Linda was following her.
The girl stopped her at the door, and Bess thought she had never seen any one as subdued and beaten as Linda looked at that moment.