[CHAPTER XXX--THE ACORN AND THE OAK]
"Oh, it's Jane! Come on!" called Judith, dragging in her wake such of the girls as she could collect from the study hall. "Come on and hear all the news."
At that moment the party from New York, Mrs. Weatherbee, Jane and their distinguished guest, Mme. Nalasky, were being shown in to the halls of old Wellington. There, just across the polished floor within the confines of the cozy office, Helen and her guest awaited, expectantly, and with evidence of suppressed excitement.
"Here we come!" announced Jane, who led the way. "Helen--you here? We stopped at your house," then seeing the strange young man, Jane repressed her joyous enthusiasm.
Madam Nalasky was holding back a little, at the urgent request of her secretary, Marie, who openly rebelled that Madam should so endanger her voice with all this excitement. Mrs. Weatherbee was saying a private word with Miss Bennet, and that left Jane with Helen and the stranger. Jane had volunteered to go on ahead to prepare Helen for the news. She stood now, debating how to undertake her task.
"Helen, you can never guess who is here?" she finally blurted out in true school girl fashion. "Have you ever heard of the fairies?"
"Of a fairy godmother--yes," replied Helen with surprising promptness. "I want to introduce to you. Miss Allen, my childhood friend--Stanislaus," she said simply.
The young man bowed, and Jane smiled, as she accepted the introduction. But her eye was over her shoulder on the door where Mme. Nalasky was being held back.
"Oh, Helen, I am all excited," admitted Jane. "We have such wonderful news. We have found--guess whom?"
"Oh, not my Matka! Do not tell me my dreams are all come true. It cannot be my mother!" and Helen, too overcome to say more grasped Jane and clung to her, trembling visibly.