"Go away, then," said Star; "there's no time to be lost."
"How is Christian now?" asked a girl.
"Don't ask me," answered Star.
She entered the pretty little boudoir, placed a couple of chairs near the fire, and then waited.
"They will come; I know they'll come," she thought. "I will force them to come. I'll think of them until they must come.'"
She had never been so determined in the whole course of her life before. The fire in her eyes seemed to get brighter. After a time she heard footsteps—lingering footsteps. Then the curtain was pushed back and the face of Susan Marsh looked in. And Susan followed her own face into the room, and Maud came behind her.
"There's a door," said Star briefly; "you had best shut it."
Maud shut the door.
"Now then," said Star, "I'm going to get to the bottom of this, and I have got to be cruel if necessary. I don't mind about either of you, even if it means that you are expelled. I want to save Christian, and to put her into a position of honor, and I want you two to tell me just the very truth."