Lottie Sparks was beginning to look triumphant. Kate Speed tossed her fair head insolently. "I told you so!" was written plainly over the faces of both of them.
Jo's face burned red with an angry sense of injustice. Nan and Sadie were equally amazed and impotent.
Jo made one last attempt.
"But, Miss Tully——"
"That will do!" Miss Tully's acidulous tone put a definite end to the controversy. "I will set the facts of this disgusting quarrel before Miss Romaine and she will decide upon the sort of punishment to be meted out to the culprit. It is a disgrace to Laurel Hall that such a scene could occur within its grounds."
Her stern gaze traveled over the three chums from Woodford.
"I am here now, Miss Tully," came a clear, calm voice from behind the English teacher. "May I ask what all this trouble is about?"
With relief, Sadie, Jo, and Nan turned toward Miss Romaine as she made her way into the center of the group. Miss Romaine was fair. She would not judge without a hearing!
Miss Tully lost some of her assurance at sight of her superior. Lottie and Kate also lost their self-satisfied smiles and began to look anxious.
Questioned by Miss Romaine, the English teacher gave the details of both sides of the quarrel as she had heard them.