In evident obedience to her command, the headmaster hurried to Fred's side, and spoke with him and the furiously blushing Margie who had loyally remained with the boy.
Conscious of the sudden tension in the hall, all the others turned toward the scene just in time to see Fred, Margie and Mr. Vining walk toward Mrs. Baxter.
So intense was the silence that a pin dropped could have been heard.
Her scrutiny of Bart ended, the patroness of the school turned, saw the boy and girl coming toward her, and advanced to meet them.
"So you are Benjamin Markham's son," exclaimed the gentlewoman, extending her hand, as a cordial smile lighted her face. "I am delighted to meet you, both on account of what you did for Baxter this afternoon—I saw the game, you know—and because of the estimation in which Mr. Baxter held your father. And this is Margie Newcomb," she smiled, shaking the girl by the hand. "I am glad, my dear, you have a gentleman for an escort. I want you to know my daughters. I don't think they have ever had the pleasure of meeting you."
Cordially the Baxter girls greeted Margie and Fred, and under their diplomatic guidance, the girl and boy were soon chatting without embarrassment.
Taking their cue from the action of Mrs. Baxter, others came up and joined the group about Fred.
At the boy's humiliation at the hands of her son, Mrs. Montgomery had smiled visibly. But at the rebuke, more stinging because it was so deserved, the woman became conscience-stricken, and, with the best grace possible, she gathered the members of her party and left the hall.
But though Mrs. Baxter, her daughters and Mr. Vining urged him, Fred declined to dance, and with Margie and the other members of the Supper Club quietly took his departure.
"Mother's going to have a spread ready for us," said Buttons, as soon as they were outside of the building, "and we can dance, too, if we like."