“I didn’t know you helped Abner,” remarked Gincy as they sat in her room waiting for the warning bell to ring. “I’m so proud of him and grateful to you. Miss Howard says you do splendidly in your work this term, Lalla.”
“You always say such nice things,” answered Lalla, evading Gincy’s eye. “There isn’t another girl in Bentville who has encouraged me the way you have. I guess I remember, and—” She broke off suddenly. Perhaps after all she would better tell Gincy the truth about the debate.
Gincy listened, her hard-working hands tightly clasped, and a sinking at her heart. It was just plain cheating and the Gooch family had never done anything like that. Of course Abner didn’t know or he never would have used the paper Lalla gave him—that was one comfort. Then Gincy thought of Raphael. Perhaps after all the medal really belonged to him; but how could she straighten it all out? Why were there so many tangles in life, anyhow?
“Gincy,” said Lalla, abruptly changing the subject, “that Mr. Gantley has come back. Talitha told me this evening and I forgot to tell you. The college folks found him up in that shack on the mountain, and they told him he’d got to go to work or they’d lock him up, and then they gave him a job in the garden. You needn’t worry about the family any more.”
Lalla ran to her room at the sound of the bell, leaving Gincy in a brown study. If she told it might get Lalla and Abner into all kinds of trouble. Perhaps they would even have the debate all over again with a new subject, or Abner might have to give up the medal in disgrace. There were so many terrible possibilities, Gincy slept little that night. Early the next morning she arose fully decided on a course of action. Miss Howard should settle it; she could hardly wait to find her.
The little teacher listened patiently. “I’ll tell you this evening. Come to my room at half-past seven; meanwhile don’t worry.”
Somewhat comforted, Gincy went about her work. Promptly at seven she presented herself at Miss Howard’s door. “I just couldn’t wait another minute,” she said by way of apology.
“You don’t need to,” was the assurance. “It’s all right. Professor Ames says the decision might not have been unanimous, but Abner would have received the medal anyhow on his main argument. It isn’t necessary that anything be said about it except to Lalla. We want her to cultivate higher ideas of honour than those she has been used to at home.”
Gincy left the room jubilant; a great burden had rolled off her mind. She could go to bed with a clear conscience and make up the sleep she had lost the night before.