"Well, dear, to-night I will mount guard. Say nothing to anyone."
Jessie soon afterwards left Miss Peacock's presence. She felt so upset, so terrified, at what she considered her betrayal of her darling girl that she had to retire to her own room, and did not even appear at tea time. The girls, however, were all too excited to notice her absence. Christian was the heroine of the hour.
Next to Christian, Rose took the highest place. Wasn't she pretty? And wasn't she stanch and true and faithful? And wasn't the adventure itself quite a grand sort of affair? And wasn't Christian really brave?
"To think that I should ever have doubted her bravery!" thought Star.
As Star thought in a very penitent way of her own conduct in the past, a hand was put on her arm, and looking up, she saw Maud Thompson by her side.
"Star, I do wish you'd come and speak to her. She's in the bowling-alley, and she's crying just like anything. She wouldn't come in to tea. She says she hates everyone in the place."
"Do you mean Susan?" asked Star.
"Yes—oh, yes! Do come to her! I think she respects you if she respects anyone."
Star thought for a minute. The rain was still pouring. To get to the bowling-alley she had to run down a sidewalk which was dripping with moisture. Turning her skirt over her head, she ran quickly, followed by Maud. Susan was standing where an eave from a neighboring tool-house slightly protected her. Her handkerchief was pressed to her eyes; she was bending forward. As Star drew near she heard her very audible sobs.
"Are you sorry, Susan?" said Star.