"I wish to know why you look so pale and worried—you seem to have displeased Sister Kate, too."
Effie very nearly burst into tears, but she restrained herself.
"I'll tell you what it is," she said. "It is the most unjust thing!"
She then mentioned in as few words as possible the circumstance of Lawson having spoken to her—of her great anxiety about George—and of her having walked back with the young medical student from her home on the previous evening.
Dorothy looked very grave while Effie was speaking.
"It is unfortunate," she said. "This is just the sort of thing that injures a girl at the commencement of her hospital life."
"But it is so ridiculous and unjust," said Effie. "What in the world can Mr. Lawson be to me?"
"Oh, nothing, of course, my dear," replied Dorothy. "But still the rules cannot be too strict on this point. You know I am not a prude, but all girls are not like you, Effie; and, in short, Sister Kate is in the right. Someone must have seen you walking back with Mr. Lawson, and must have told her, or hinted, at least, at the state of the case. Nothing else would have induced her to question you."
"She had no right to speak to me about acquaintances that I meet out of the hospital."
"Strictly speaking, she has no right; that's why I say she must have got a hint."