Judy’s door was still ajar when she saw a flash of light on the stairs, which heralded the approach of Miss Steel, still fully clothed, and walking noiselessly as usual. Judy closed her door and locked it softly.
“Only a spy would wear felt slippers,” she said to herself scornfully. Then she laughed. “It was rather good fun to be sure, but would it have mattered so much, after all, if Margaret had boldly come in at the front door and explained?”
They would never have gone to all that trouble to deceive nice Mrs. Markham, her thoughts continued as she removed her manly attire, but Miss Steel was different.
As for Molly, her thoughts were about the same as Judy’s.
“A lady doesn’t creep,” she was thinking, as she thankfully crawled into bed; “a lady doesn’t listen at doors or wear soundless slippers in order to walk like a cat. No, Miss Steel is decidedly not a lady.”
And when Molly came to this decision about a person, she avoided them carefully ever afterward. Her definition of a “lady” was about the same as a man’s definition of a “gentleman.” It had nothing whatever to do with birth or education.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE FOOTBALL GAME
During those fast flying weeks which tread on one another’s heels so rapidly between Thanksgiving and Christmas, came one of the most important events of the season.