"Oh, it seems too silly! And besides you recall our pledge not to carry tales to the faculty! You wouldn't have your president be the first to break the very rule she was most insistent upon adopting?"
"Oh, no, that's so," agreed Clarisse. "I remember now, you did say we were not to carry tales. Very well, I am satisfied. I think, as a committee of one I have been quite a success, thanks to our president," and she made a perky bow.
[CHAPTER XXI--THE TWO JAYS]
Alone, Jane pondered seriously over the new aspect her problem had assumed. Never had so absurd a story gained more prompt impetus--the result, presumably, of well-laid plans, the work of Marian Seaton. In her own generosity Jane would have made allowance even for her proclaimed enemy, but the width and breadth, to say nothing of the depths of this propaganda, were beyond her ken.
"Strange," she reflected, "Marian always makes a confidant of someone who, herself, is unlike our other girls."
This "someone" was just now Dolorez Vincez, the South American girl, obviously much older than her companions at Wellington, and certainly of an entirely different social cast. Dolorez had made things unpleasant for Helen on more than one occasion, although she seemed to avoid openly meeting her. An unseen power operating against her had been most effective.
"I must talk to Judy," Jane decided. "No use my going woozy all alone. Better have company," she wisely decided.
"That's the worse of an ankle," Judith greeted her chum. "One can't take it along and leave it at home at the same time. There is mine now, perfectly good for limping to the hard-working classrooms, and utterly useless for hiking, dancing and sprinting. How's the big game coming on? Sit down, dear. I don't need every cushion, and all the chairs."
Jane dropped into the chair indicated by Judith, who still hugged her ankle and "enjoyed" the ill health of its injured condition. As her friends had predicted Judith was the recipient of much fudge, all sorts of books, and even hot-house flowers, purloined from chapel. She had been nursing the foot for some days, and took to it so naturally, Jane feared for a reasonably prompt convalescence.
"Big game is coming along finely, but how is the foot, Judy? Won't be able to play, will you?"