“Could Jack have sent these?” she mused. “And yet——” A pause as she fingered the dull gray green necklace. “If they are really genuine they must be very valuable,” she reflected. “And they must have belonged with the glittering trunk stuff that greeted Gloria’s arrival.”
She slipped the beads over her head and looked in the mirror.
“I’m glad I’m here with the little girl now,” she decided. “I’ve always heard that the chief attraction at boarding school was the opportunity of meeting girls from all parts of the country, but now I’m inclined to think it is the opportunity of meeting all kinds of girls! Heigh-o!” and the beads were slid back into the black Japanese basket with the coral beads and brass rings. “There, I wonder if my little black beauty will ever wear these?”
At Jack’s door Gloria was listening. Miss Taylor was just about to leave and she greeted Gloria pleasantly.
“It’s lovely of you to come and sit with her for a few minutes,” she said, “because I know you are working so hard on exams. I heard what a fine outline you handed in to Miss Sanders.”
“Thanks,” said Gloria. “You know I love English, so it’s a pleasure to work in Miss Sanders’ class.”
The little lady slipped away smiling. It was very evident she had faith in the work Gloria was doing, and her manner clearly implied it was very good work indeed.
But Jack was waiting.
“Gloria!” exclaimed Jack, before the girl just coming in had time to offer her own greeting. “Gloria Doane, my rescuer!”
“Bosh!” flushed Gloria, hating the flame in her cheeks. “I had the best swim ever. The best I’ve had since I came up here.”