“Nothing she does or seems, but smacks of something greater than herself,
Too noble for this place.”
CHAPTER XIV
“TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE”
Fortunately the two girls had not to spend a minute in looking for Jean, for no sooner had they entered the front hall of the school than she was seen talking with a group of friends.
“Hello,” she cried, pleased to find that Gerry and Olive had been out together for a walk and grateful for what she thought Gerry’s friendliness to Olive.
Olive went straight up to her, too much in earnest to be abashed by the presence of others. “Come on up to our sitting room, Jean,” she begged, “for Gerry and I have something to talk to you about that must be decided at once.”
It was a pity that Olive must be in such a hurry, Gerry thought a little impatiently, and also a pity that she had used her name in speaking to Jean and plainly wished her to be present at their coming interview, for there was, of course, a possibility that Jean might be a good deal vexed at her interference. But as Jean left her other friends immediately, slipping one arm through Olive’s and another through Gerry’s and propelling them as rapidly as she could up the broad stairs, what was there for Gerry to do but to surrender and let things take their course?
“Whatever weighty problem there is on your mind, Olive Ralston, that you wish me to help you solve,” Jean exclaimed gaily, as they reached their own door, “kindly remember that three heads are better than one, even if one is a dunce’s head, else I should never have allowed Geraldine Ferrows to be present at our council.” And giving each of the girls an added shove, the three of them plunged headlong into the sitting room.
Frieda was not to be seen, but to their surprise there before their open fire Jessica Hunt sat peacefully, holding a large open box of flowers on her lap, with her cheeks a good deal flushed, possibly from the heat of the fire.
“I beg your pardon, children, for having taken possession of your apartment in this way,” she explained, “but I happen to have a present for you sent through my care and it seemed to me that the surest way to find you was to wait at your own hearthstone until you chose to appear.” While Jessica was speaking she was holding out the box of flowers toward Jean and Olive. “Mr. Drummond has sent you these with a note to me asking me to see that you get them.”