“No, but I fancy that it is Miss Randolph’s, if you are disobeying such important rules. It is a matter of your own safety as well as ours. I don’t intend to do anything but inform Miss Randolph. She can use her own judgment.”
Louise wore an ill and sullen look, then realized what it would mean if Hilary informed Miss Randolph, and began to cry once more. “I didn’t think that you were such a mean girl,—to tell!”
“If I don’t, will you stop going out at night?”
“What good would it do for her to promise us?” inquired Lilian with surprising bluntness. “We can’t sit up nights to see that she keeps her promise.”
“Will you give me your key?” said Hilary.
Louise hesitated. “Y-yes,” she said, “if you will not tell.”
“Well, Louise, I’ve no desire to have you sent away, and I suppose that is what would happen. If you will give me your key and promise not to leave the hall at night, I will at least postpone telling Miss Randolph, and see what happens. There’ll be no more ‘Woman in Black’ nonsense, of course.”
“All right. I suppose I’ll have to do it. Here is the key.” Louise handed Hilary a key, while the other girls looked at each other as if to say, “Funny that she had it all ready like that.”
After the departure of Louise, Hilary sank into a rocking chair and dropped her hands in a gesture of helplessness upon her lap. “Did you ever!”
“Crocodile tears!” exclaimed Betty.