“That won’t matter, I guess; I don’t suppose I shall be in it much, anyway. I don’t seem to belong there.”
The dinner-gong sounded at that moment, and Miss Sutherland went into the hall, Dolly following in a very perturbed frame of mind. “I will take you to Professor Newton now,” she remarked as they reached the dining-room door.
“I don’t reckon that you need to, I know Professor Newton,” Miss Sutherland returned, with the queer little smile that Dolly again failed to note.
“Oh, you met her when you came, did you? Good-bye, then, for a few minutes,” and Dolly crossed the room to Miss Randall’s table, where Elizabeth was waiting for her. Their seats were next each other, and after the meal had fairly commenced, Dolly told her all that had transpired up in her room.
Elizabeth gave a soft whistle. “I pity you, my dear; you see you have a tender conscience, and you are going to bother yourself about Miss Sutherland all of the time. Now, if I were you, I should never give her another thought, especially as your room has returned to its normal condition.”
“You slander yourself,” Dolly retorted, “didn’t you act the part of a good Samaritan to me?”
“Oh, you–you are different! Don’t you know that you are going to be one of the most popular girls here? You are pretty and bright, and friendly with everyone.”
“Hush up, Beth.”
“How came you to call me that?”
Elizabeth’s tone was queer, and Dolly turned to look at her.