But after Jerry had gone, he went to the window and stood watching him.
“That is a generous boy!” he said; “but he has made a mistake. He will see it when he is older and wiser. He will learn that true manhood helps law and order, not even the idea of honor coming before it, noble as it is.” 125
Still the difficulty of unravelling the matter remained with him in as much doubt as it did with Miss Ashton; but with both of these excellent principals there was no question but that it must be sifted to the bottom, the delinquents discovered and punished.
The time for doing this was short; and should it be necessary to expel a pupil, the coming vacation offered a suitable occasion.
Soon after, Miss Ashton, going through the corridor one evening, found two girls in close and excited conversation,—Myra Peters and Julia Dorr.
They did not see her at first, so she was quite near enough to them to catch a few words.
“You may say what you please,” said Julia Dorr. “I’m as sure of it as sure can be; I’ve sat close by you time and again when you had it on, and if I had been you I would have owned it.”
“Owned it!” snarled Myra Peters, “will you be kind enough to mind your own business, and let other people’s alone, Miss Interferer?”
“Well, interferer or not, I’ve half a mind to go and tell Miss Ashton.”
“Tell Miss Ashton what?” asked a voice close beside them.