2
Alone in the schoolroom Elizabeth clasped her slim hands on her lap; she sat very upright in her chair. Suddenly she rose to her feet; she knew what was the matter with her pupil, she had had an illuminating thought and meant to lose no time in acting upon it. She went upstairs and knocked softly on the door of Colonel Ogden's bedroom. Mrs. Ogden opened it; she looked surprised.
"May I speak to you for a moment, Mrs. Ogden?"
Mrs. Ogden glanced at the bed to make certain that this intrusion had not wakened the sleeping patient, then she closed the door noiselessly behind her and the two faced each other on the landing. Something in Elizabeth's eyes startled her.
"Is anything wrong?" she faltered.
"I think we had better talk in the dining-room," was all that Elizabeth would say.
They went into the dining-room and shut the door; neither of them sat down.
"It's about Joan," Elizabeth began, "I'm worried about her."
"Why, is anything the matter?"
"I think," said Elizabeth, "that a great deal is going to be the matter unless something is done very soon."