The visitor moved toward her bed. Peeping carefully, but continuing to breathe in the same regular fashion that Tavia did, Dorothy watched the shadowy form draw near.
It was a woman, for whoever it was had on a long woollen dressing gown. But the face and head were in complete shadow, and at first Dorothy had no idea as to the person’s identity.
The woman came close to the foot of the bed and stood there for several minutes. Dorothy began to feel highly nervous—she really thought she should scream. Not that she was afraid as yet; but the strange actions of the Unknown——
Ah! now she was moving nearer. She was coming alongside—between Tavia’s and Dorothy’s beds. Celia was on that side, and Dorothy was about to put her arm protectingly over the child.
Then she feared the visitor would suspect that she was not asleep. And if she was frightened off, Dorothy might not learn who it was.
So the girl kept very still, continuing to breathe deeply and regularly. The woman stooped closer and closer. It was over Celia that she bent, and Dorothy saw her hand steal out to draw the sheet farther back from the child’s face.
Then Dorothy knew suddenly who it was. She recognized the long, clawlike hand; and the peculiar ring upon the third finger—the engagement finger—fully identified Miss Olaine!
Dorothy had often noted that ring on the strange teacher’s hand. Miss Olaine had come creeping into the room, supposing all the girls to be asleep, just to see Celia Moran!
There could be no doubt but that Miss Olaine had some deep interest in the Morans—in both Tom and Celia. Tavia had suggested such a thing; but really Dorothy had not believed it before Mrs. Pangborn spoke as she did on this evening as the girls were coming up to bed with Celia.
The queer teacher bent down and peered into the face of the unconscious child. A glance at Dorothy seemed to have satisfied her that the latter was asleep. All her interest was centered in the little child who had run away from her hard task-mistress.