"You were excused?"
"No—I was not."
"Then I shall haf to report to Miss North."
The color came into Blue Bonnet's cheeks and her eyes flashed.
"Do," she said. "I don't mind giving you that little treat."
"I perfectly abominate that woman," she said, going back to the hearth rug. "She can anger me quicker than any one I ever knew. I was terribly rude to her; but she is so aggravating. She adores getting something on me."
When the gong sounded for bed Blue Bonnet had drawn a tub of hot water for Joy's bath, and urged her into it.
"It will make her sleep better," she said to herself as the door closed between them. "Poor girl; my heart aches for her. If she stays here the girls have just got to be nicer to her—that's all! And she's going to stay—she must, even if I have to send for Uncle Cliff to help straighten things out."