“I am regarding Miss Cairns in a more favorable light; far more favorable than I had ever expected to regard her,” the president admitted slowly.
“Oh, I forgot to mention one very important point,” Marjorie added. “I have talked with Miss Remson about Miss Cairns. I know her to be great-spirited. She wishes to help Leslie.”
“My own belief,” came the hearty reply. “After all, Miss Marjorie, the burden of Miss Cairns’ offenses were against yourself, Miss Remson and myself.” The president smiled rather wryly. “You have chosen to eliminate yourself in the problem. I can do no better than to emulate your fine example of true Christian spirit. It remains for Miss Remson to speak her mind. In confidence I will say that the personal side of Miss Remson’s and my grievances against Miss Cairns were never brought before the Board. Miss Cairns was expelled from Hamilton College together with her student confederates for hazing—and nothing other than hazing.”
“Oh!” Marjorie could not repress the quick anxious ejaculation. She was suddenly seeing a dim light of hope, very faint, but a light, nevertheless.
The man saw the flash of hopeful eagerness spring into her face. His next speech was even more reassuring.
“You know how bitterly I am opposed to hazing,” he said. “My attitude toward the students who were expelled from Hamilton for hazing you was implacable. It was perhaps more severe than that of my colleagues. A plea to the Board on my part for re-instatement for Miss Cairns may meet with success. I will call a meeting of the members soon. Considerable time has elapsed since the affair. Your wish in the matter——”
“Pardon me. Must my name be mentioned?” Marjorie questioned in a tone of dismay.
“Yes, since you wish to help Miss Cairns. It will be one of my strongest arguments in favor of re-instatement. While her desire to return to college because of regard for her father is commendable, this, in itself, may not impress the Board members. They may maintain that she should have thought of her duty to her father before she defied the rules of the college.”
“If they could only know what such a re-instatement would mean to her!” was Marjorie’s involuntary exclamation. “There is her side of it too. It is the side I intended to present to you in case you had not been in sympathy with me,” she added naively.
“Indeed?” President Matthews regarded her with interested, half-amused eyes. He was thoroughly admiring her invincible spirit. “Will you tell me Miss Cairns’ side of it?” he requested gently.