Betty shook her head. “That certainly wouldn’t be straight,” she declared. “I’m helping her because the theme was lost off my desk—and because she’s been so sweet to Dorothy.”
After all, the interview wasn’t so dreadful. Miss Raymond began by thanking Betty for coming at once to explain her side of the affair.
“Though of course I knew all that you have told me about the part you took,” she said. “But one thing more—do you think Miss Ford is telling the truth about her part? You think she really wrote the theme?”
“Oh, yes, I’m sure she did,” Betty answered earnestly. “She has queer ideas about what would be fair and honest, but I’m sure she doesn’t tell out-and-out lies. Besides, how would she ever think of such a story?”
“It’s no stranger than others I’ve listened to that proved to be the invention of girls stupider than Eugenia Ford,” Miss Raymond assured her smilingly. “But I shall accept your judgment in the matter.”
“And give her a chance to write another theme?” asked Betty eagerly.
Miss Raymond hesitated. “I don’t see how I can do that, when I have refused half a dozen others who had better excuses. But what’s lost generally turns up, doesn’t it? Suppose I give Miss Ford three weeks, in the hope that her theme will come to light. Of course I shall trust to her honor not to write another and substitute it for the original.”
“But if it doesn’t come to light?” Betty knew just how thoroughly she had ransacked her desk.
Miss Raymond considered. “Then what I can do will depend on the reports I get from her other instructors—and from you, if you are to continue tutoring her.”
Betty blushed violently. “If you remember my themes, Miss Raymond, I know you think it’s perfectly crazy for me to be tutoring in English.” And she explained how she had been driven to beginning with Eugenia, and then not allowed to stop.