Star said nothing. She moved slowly down the corridor. At the corner she saw Susan.
"Ah! Yah!" said Susan. "I thought I'd take the wind out of your sails."
"You have done nothing of the sort," replied Star.
She continued to walk steadily along the corridor. Presently she reached the end. At the end was a door. She opened it and went out. It led into the garden. Star walked quickly. Susan came and planted herself at the door. Maud stood by Susan's side. They saw Star walk along the garden path, then stop short and turn abruptly to her left.
"She's going to defy Miss Forest. Who will believe her now?" said Susan. "Come, let us watch her, Maud; let us watch her."
They scampered down the path until they came to the place where Star had turned off. They now saw Star open the wicket-gate near the lodge and disappear on to the high-road.
"Ah, now we've caught her!" said Susan. "Now she's in for it."
Meanwhile Star, with the flame of fire which Christian's face had awakened in her heart still blazing brightly, pursued her way.
Wrong! Of course she had not done wrong. She had done the only right thing in all the world.
"I must bring it home to them," she thought. "The thing must be explained. There is a serpent in our midst. I must get the obnoxious creature out of the school."