“Grandmarm!” said Sue, her hot temper flashing into her face, “when we want your advice, we will ask it.”
“What’s up, Dody? Whose feelings are hurt, and who ought to be ashamed of themselves?” asked Gladys. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“About Marion and the Demosthenic Club!” answered Dorothy briefly. 79
“What for? What has Marion to do with the club?”
Dorothy looked straight into Gladys’s face for a moment. Whatever other faults Gladys had, she had never, even in trifles, been otherwise than honest and straightforward. There was nothing in her face now but surprise; so Dorothy, much relieved that she was not a partaker in the unkindness, explained to her that, as Susan had just told them, the club had taken Marion’s country cousin for a butt, and had made him, with the old aunt,—the knowledge of whom must have come to them from some one in their room,—the characters in the farce; and that Marion, coming into the room just as Susan was telling of it, had heard her; and it had hurt her feelings.
Now, strange as it may seem, it was nevertheless true that the club, knowing Gladys well, and how impossible it would be for her to do anything that might injure another, had carefully kept from her any direct participation in it. She knew in a general way what was to be done, but was ignorant of particulars.
No sooner had the whole been made known to her, than without a word, though it was after the time when the girls were allowed to leave their rooms, without the slightest effort to move softly, she passed the doors of several teachers, up into another corridor, not stopping until she tapped at Jenny Barton’s room. 80
The tap was followed by the muffled sound of scurrying feet, of a table pulled hastily away, of whispers intended to be soft, but in the hurry having a strangely sibilant tone, that made them almost words spoken aloud, to the impatient Gladys.
She rapped a second time, a little louder than the first, and the door was opened by Jenny, in her nightdress. The gas in the room was out, and there was no one to be seen.
“Why, Gladys Philbrick!” she exclaimed crossly, pulling Gladys hastily in; “you frightened us almost out of our wits. Girls! it’s only Gladys!”