"I should think all the old class girls would be well aware that the matter of canvassing is strictly prohibited," Jane said. "And for such a thing as a beauty parlor!" Here she, too, felt the situation beyond words. She seemed to vision the girls running out of the grounds at every recreation to get another daub of enamel, or a quick dip of hair dye. What a situation such an opportunity would precipitate! Also the fact that Dolorez' black hair was streaked, and that her high color was not always reliable, flashed across Jane's mind. This had been Dolorez' doings, she felt convinced.
"I agree with you," Mrs. Weatherbee replied. "No girl in Wellington for any length of time could have committed such an error unconsciously. I therefore feel that Miss Vincez must be more to blame than Miss Seaton."
"I now recall," Jane amended, "hearing some talk about making a lot of money (Dolorez had said a 'pot of money') but I had no idea to what this referred."
"Yes, they had it all settled. Little slips of paper were typewritten and the girls pledged--actually pledged, to take the so-called treatments. And they were to pay a part of the charge in advance to start the parlor. Did you ever hear of anything so absurd?"
Jane shook her head to deny ever having heard of anything so absurd. She was thinking too rapidly to trust herself to words.
"Of course, I shall have to bring both girls before the board," said Mrs. Weatherbee. "I am convinced that they alone are to blame."
"Might it be possible," suggested Jane, "that Dolorez is ignorant of our rules as regards business?"
"I think not. She has simply wound Miss Seaton around her fingers. Miss Vincez is a girl of unusual experience. Her standing was investigated, but I am afraid we allowed personal influence to overcome good judgment. Miss Vincez was formerly a pupil-teacher at Blindwood."
"A pupil-teacher!" exclaimed Jane. "Then that accounts for her basketball skill?"
"Exactly. She taught athletics."