“No?” Doris smilingly tilted her golden head and raised polite brows.
“Miss Dean acted entirely against the traditions of Hamilton,” she continued sullenly. “She went straight to Jane Everest, who was detailed to blow the whistle for unmasking and asked her not to blow it until she, Miss Dean, gave her the signal. She told Jane why, too. She had asked me not to say a word to a soul about Miss Cairns.”
“How do you happen to know all this?” Doris asked in a quick sharp tone.
“I was with Miss Dean. I—er—I didn’t—I couldn’t get away from her just then. So I heard the whole thing.” Julia floundered briefly, but ended in triumph.
“What did Miss Everest say?”
“She said she would wait to blow it. I was so disgusted with them both for their disloyalty to tradition I simply turned and left them. You know, Doris, that Miss Dean had no business to ask Jane Everest to disobey the order of the senior dance committee. They had set the time for unmasking. It was very dishonorable for her to try to shield an expelled student who had taken advantage of the masquerade to trick her way into the gym. Miss Cairns couldn’t possibly ever again have hoped to take part in a college frolic after the way she left Hamilton. She was considered utterly lawless by the Board, Prexy and the faculty. I’ve heard volumes against her since I came to Hamilton.
“Miss Dean knows more against Miss Cairns, so I’ve been told, than any other student at Hamilton. She and Miss Cairns were rivals for popularity while Miss Cairns was on the campus. They used to play all sorts of dishonorable tricks upon each other, I suspect,” Julia eyed Doris darkly, “that Miss Dean didn’t have the—the—courage to expose Miss Cairns. It would take a person of very high principle to expose Miss Cairns openly on the floor of the gym, as she should have been exposed. I hope, for your sake, Miss Dean won’t tell her pals about it. If she does, it will soon be campus gossip.”
“Why for my sake?” Doris still refused to be included in Julia’s implications.
“It’s sweet in you to try to protect Miss Cairns, Doris, I honor you for it.” Julia said, her reply reeking acidity. “But you can’t deceive me. I know the farmer with the striped umbrella was Miss Cairns. I saw you go through the grand march and dance the first dance with her. I knew you by your walk and I came up close to you on purpose and took a good look at you to make sure. I know your emerald ring and I saw some of your hair fluffing out from under your hat.”
“I went through the grand march and danced the first number with a rustic swain,” Doris stated with deliberate coldness. “I did not see my partner’s face. Did you?”