"I thought you would realise," continued Henrietta severely, "that the situation is trying for us all——"
"Of course I do." Clare hastened to soothe her. "But seriously, Miss Vigers, I do not think you need be anxious. The inquest—oh, a painful ordeal, if you like. But you, at least, can have no reason to reproach yourself."
Henrietta relaxed again.
"No! As I say, I'm not the head of the school. I'm not responsible for regulations—only for carrying them out. And accidents will happen."
"I only hope," said Clare, as if to herself, "that it will be considered an accident——"
Henrietta stared.
"But Miss Hartill! Of course it was an accident!"
Clare looked at her wistfully.
"Yes! It was, wasn't it? Yes, of course! It must have been an accident." Her tone dismissed the matter.
But Henrietta was on the alert. Her own anxieties had been skilfully allayed. Her mind was recovering poise. She nosed a mystery and her reviving sense of importance insisted on sharing the knowledge of it.