She stooped lower. Dorothy saw that Miss Olaine’s face was tear-streaked and her eyes were wet. She bent near, breathing softly, and touched her lips to the pale forehead of little Celia.
Then Miss Olaine rose up quickly and stole away from the bed again. Dorothy almost forgot to breathe steadily. She was amazed and excited by the actions of the teacher who, heretofore, had seemed so hard-hearted.
There certainly was what Tavia would have called a “soft streak” in Miss Olaine. Dorothy was sure that she heard her sobbing as the teacher opened the door quietly again and stole out.
What did it mean? Had Miss Olaine a personal interest in the little girl from the “Findling asylum”—the little lost sister of Tom Moran?
Evidently Mrs. Pangborn had told her assistant of the presence in the school that night of little Celia. Miss Olaine must have a deeper interest in Tom Moran than the incident of the school building fire two years before would suggest.
It was a big mystery—a puzzle that Dorothy could not fathom, though she lay awake a long time trying to do so. Here was another reason for finding the missing man. Dorothy could not help pitying Miss Olaine, although the teacher had treated her so harshly for a fortnight or more.
“Just as Mrs. Pangborn says, we have reason to excuse her harshness,” thought Dorothy, as usual willing and ready to excuse other people. “And I’d just love to be the one to clear all the trouble up both for Miss Olaine and little Celia.
“Finding Tom Moran will bring Celia happiness, I am sure. Now, would finding him bring happiness to Rebecca Olaine, as well?”
Early in the morning Mrs. Ann Hogan made her appearance at Glenwood School. But Dorothy and Tavia had got Celia up betimes, and the three had had their breakfast before the regular breakfast hour. Tavia always knew how to “get around the cook” and did about as she pleased with that good soul.
“We’ll just fill Celia up as tight as a little tick,” declared Tavia, “before that ogress carries her off to her castle again. Oh, Dorothy! do you suppose that horrid thing will beat poor little Celia?”