"Easiest way," returned Duane with a shrug. "I'm in the habit of choosing it."
"Sometimes, perhaps," said Miss St. Leger cautiously.
"Then what did you mean by saying you were sorry you had wronged me?" asked Kitty eagerly.
"Oh, I was merely referring to my wrongly believing that you were the culprit, the day before."
"And, of course, everybody took it in rather a different way."
"There isn't much more to be told," Duane continued. "I must admit it bothered me sometimes last term when I saw that Erica still worried over the affair, but I thought she'd get over it in time. But she didn't, and what happened yesterday was the result."
Miss St. Leger nodded gravely.
"I gather from this note that it was the hockey match that decided her." She glanced again at the note in her hand, and read it out:
"DEAR BERTHA,
"I can't stand it any longer, having people think Duane did it and knowing all the time it was me. But I'm not brave enough to confess to everyone, and so I'm going to run away home this afternoon. I'm going to try and slip away from the others and get a train at Frattenton. Gracie Morris whose home is at Frattenton told me the way. I am sorry. I hate myself for being such a coward. But after yesterday afternoon I felt I just couldn't go on being such a little pig, though Duane says it's all right and I mustn't worry my head about her. Please will you tell them all about everything after I have gone.