"For once Brenda has no excuse ready," added Mrs. Barlow; "now I am anxious to know where you have been this afternoon?"
Brenda turned very red before replying, "Oh, Belle and I have been together."
"I dare say," said Mr. Barlow, "but that does not tell us where you have been?"
"Any one would think," cried Brenda, almost in tears, "that I was a girl of ten years of age. I do not know any one who has to account for everything she does; there is not a girl at school who is watched in this way."
"Sometimes I think that it would be better if you were under closer guardianship. Some one has been telling me that you need it."
Brenda flashed a glance at Julia as if she might be the informant, and Julia rejoiced that she had not even mentioned having seen Brenda down town.
"You were not at the dressmaker's this afternoon," said Mrs. Barlow reproachfully.
"I hope that you were not on the bridge, looking at the crews," said Mr. Barlow.
"No," said Brenda quickly, "I was not. Why did you think of that?"
"Because some one has been telling me that a number of foolish girls are in the habit of going where the Harvard Bridge is building on fine afternoons, just as the class crews are out exercising, and that some of these girls always wave their handkerchiefs, and even cheer, as their favorites come near—and more than this some one has told me that you are often to be seen among these girls; now, Brenda, I tell you frankly that this won't do."