absurd, of course."

"But we did ride in a patrol wagon, Mrs. Pangborn," answered Dorothy,
trying hard to keep Viola's tearful face before her mind, to guide her
in her statements.

"How foolish, child. It might have been a joke--Tell me about it!"

"If you would excuse me, Mrs. Pangborn, and not think me rude, I would
rather not," said Dorothy, her cheeks aflame.

"Not tell me!" and the lady raised her eyebrows. "Why, Dorothy! Is
there any good reason why you do not wish to tell me?"

"Yes, I have made a promise. It may not be of much account, but, if
you will excuse me, it would relieve me greatly not to go over it."

Mrs. Pangborn did not answer at once. For a girl to admit she had
ridden in a police van and for that girl to be Dorothy Dale! It seemed
incredible.

"Dorothy," she began, gravely, "whatever may be back of this, I am sure
you have not been at fault--seriously at least. And since you prefer
not to make me your confidant I cannot force you to do so. I am sorry.
I had expected something different. The young ladies will scarcely
make apologies to you under the circumstances."

She made a motion as if to dismiss Dorothy. Plainly the head of
Glenwood School could not be expected to plead with a pupil--certainly
not to-day, when her new and poignant grief could not be hidden.

"I shall say to the young ladies," said the teacher, finally, "that
they are to show you all the respect they had shown you heretofore.
That you have done nothing to be ashamed of--I am sure of this,
although you make the matter so mysterious. I would like to have
compelled the girl who spread this report to make amends, but I cannot
do that. You do not deny her story."

At that moment Dorothy saw, or at least guessed, what it all meant.
That had been the story of her trouble! It was that which made the
girls turn their backs on her--that which had almost broken her heart.
And now she had put it out of her power to contradict their charges!

Mrs. Pangborn had said "good morning," Dorothy was alone in the
corridor. She had left the office and could not now turn back!

Oh, why had she been so easily deceived? Why had Viola made her give
that promise? Surely it must have been more than that! The story, to
cause all the girls to shun her! And perhaps Mrs. Pangborn believed it
all! No, she had refused to believe it. But what should Dorothy do
now?

Oh, what a wretched girl she was! How much it had cost her t