“I am sure Mrs. Pangborn will ’tend to that matter,” Dorothy said.
And Mrs. Pangborn did ask Mrs. Hogan into her office before she had Celia brought in by the girls. It was evident that the dignified school principal had spoken much to the point to the red-faced Mrs. Hogan, for the latter was both subdued and nervous when Celia appeared.
“Celia has certainly done wrong in coming here to find you, Dorothy,” said Mrs. Pangborn, quietly. “I hope you said nothing to her which encouraged her to run away?”
“Oh, no, indeed, Mrs. Pangborn!” said Dorothy, while Celia clung tight about her neck and looked fearfully at her taskmistress.
“Then Mrs. Hogan knows that it was just the child’s longing for you that brought her here.”
“Sure, the little plague has been talkin’ about Miss Dale all the time since she was wid us for the week-end,” grumbled Mrs. Hogan. “Come here, Cely. I’ll not chastise ye this time—but if there’s another——”
“I am sure there is no need of threatening her,” interposed Mrs. Pangborn. “Come, Celia!”
The little one unclasped her hands lingeringly from about Dorothy’s neck.
“Oh, I’ll find some way to see you again, Dorothy Dale,” she whispered. “For you know they all say——”
“You be good, and I’ll come to see you,” declared Dorothy.