CHAPTER XVIII
SAY IT WITH POPCORN
Miss Sanders, the English teacher, was amazed when she found Gloria’s essay had not been turned in for the final reading. That was why Miss Alton sent Maggie with the summons.
“But why didn’t you tell me?” queried the principal. “I would not have allowed anything to interfere with such important work. You must know we are each pledged to support the honor and traditions of Altmount.”
Each word was crushing Gloria’s already abused feelings. She had checked her good cry but had not appeased the disturbance which caused it, and again her lip was trembling. Couldn’t Miss Alton understand? Were the so-called honor and traditions of Altmount higher than the honor to a friend, and a sick friend at that? And was there any one else who could have shared Jack’s confidence as she, Gloria, had been forced to do?
“But I can try some other time, Miss Alton,” she said as bravely as she could. “It really—doesn’t matter.”
“You are noble to say so,” accorded Miss Alton. “But it certainly is too bad. Miss Sanders speaks so highly of your original English work. Is there no way you can finish it? If it is only typing I’ll call in one of the commercial department girls and have that done. I’ll even delay the mail packet——”
“I’m afraid I could hardly finish it satisfactorily now,” interrupted Gloria. “You see, I’m—a little——”
She could not finish the sentence. One big tear splashed on her cheek and another promptly followed on the other. Miss Alton knew how much agitation was necessary to arouse girls of Gloria’s type to tears, but she also knew how difficult it was to quell such when once they were aroused.
So she patted the shaking shoulders and advised a good lunch.
“You see, we are having quite a run of complications,” said the principal, hoping to divert Gloria. “Our nurse has been called to an urgent case, and I can’t see what I will do for some one to take charge of Jacquinot. It is out of the question for our teachers to be disturbed at night.”