t I prefer--ahem!
Something tragic!"

"Beat Red Riding Hood for tragedy then," challenged one of the group.
"Of all the atrocities--"

"And desperate deals--"

"To say nothing of the grandmother's night cap going in the mix up--"

And so they laughed it all off, and marveled that the mere mention of
the old story should awaken such comment.

Dorothy seemed to enjoy the innocent sallies. It was pleasant to be
with the jolly crowd again, and to feel something akin to the old
happiness.

"What happened to Fiddle?" asked Amy Brook. "I thought she would come
back to class when her pout wore off."

"Pout?" repeated Dorothy. "I met her in the hall and she seemed to be
in great distress."

"Shouldn't wonder," remarked Nita. "Any one who crosses swords with
Miss Higley is bound to come to grief sooner or later. If I had been
Fiddle I should have apologized at once--easiest way out of it with
Higley."

Dorothy was confused. She had no idea of the scene that had taken
place in the schoolroom that morning between Miss Higley and Viola.
But as it was impossible for her to keep up with the run of school
events lately, she ventured no more questions.

"When's Chrissy coming back?" asked Edna. "I'm almost dead without
her. Haven't had a single scrap since she went. And I've got the
greatest lot corked up ready to explode from spontaneous combustion."

"I hope she'll be back before the end of this term," answered Dorothy.
"I heard to-day her mother is entirely recovered."

"Good for the mother! Also more power to her. I think I'll crawl up
the skylight and do perfectly reckless stunts on the roof when Chrissy
returns just to celebrate," and suiting her words with the jubilant
mood the girl waltzed away down the path, making queer "jabs" at the
inoffensive air that was doing its best to make life bright and
pleasant for the girls at Glenwood.

CHAPTER XXII

MISS CRANE AND VIOLA

Viola Green was thoroughly upset. She had quarreled with Miss Higley.
She had more than quarreled with Dorothy. Mrs. Pangborn had told her
plainly that if her story concerning Dorothy was found to be untrue she
would have to leave Glenwood, for that story had touched on the fair
name of a pupil of the school, to say nothing more. Having defamed the
honored name of Dale made the matter of still greater importance.

What should she do? To leave Glenwood seemed to be the only answer to
that oft-repeated question. But to ge