“She wants yuh, right off, at the office,” said Maggie, brushing back a “cow lick,” reminiscently.
“All right, I’ll go at once,” agreed Gloria, putting her petrified wood paper weight upon the precious essay. Her dad had sent that weight to her, all the way from the Philippines, and she always felt it was the nearest thing to his own personal influence that she could exert.
In the office she found Miss Alton, as sweetly impressive as usual, and she politely inquired after Gloria’s own affairs before divulging the purport of her summons.
“And I’ve heard all about your bravery,” she smiled. “The girls are simply inspired by your heroism——”
“Oh, it was scarcely worth all the fuss that has been made——”
“I know. To the brave all else is puny,” said the principal. “Nevertheless, it is gratifying for me to know I have such a splendid lieutenant to stand by my officers during my absence.”
Gloria smiled tolerantly. She was thinking of that sentence she had been just about to indite when Maggie called. She looked up questioningly.
“What I sent for you for,” responded Miss Alton, “was to ask your help again. It seems little Jacquinot has implicit faith in your discretion, and she has, has she not, intrusted to you a message she wished sent to her mother?”
“Yes. I talked with Mrs. Corday on the wire,” replied Gloria, “but Jack was sleeping when I returned——”
“I understand. That was entirely right. You had no need, really, to report to the office, although as a rule, it is best to do so. Under the circumstances, and in consideration of your excited state of mind it was entirely excusable——”