Bessie, quite stunned by the trouble that had come upon them so suddenly out of a clear sky, couldn't speak for a minute.
"Oh," she said, then, "you don't mean that all the girls will have to leave this lovely place because of me?"
"Not because of you, but because of a mistake that's not your fault, Bessie. You mustn't worry about it. Just leave it to me. I'm sure you're telling the truth, and I'm going to stick by you."
CHAPTER XIV
THE TRUTH AT LAST
But Bessie, despite Mrs. Chester's kind words, was terribly downcast.
"Really, Mrs. Chester," she said miserably, "it's awfully unfair to make all the other girls suffer on account of me."
"You mustn't look at it that way, Bessie. You couldn't tell a lie, you know, even to prevent this trouble."