"Yes, but you must believe that I did it all unwittingly. I never gave a thought to what I was saying. I shall never forgive myself for my carelessness. It came about naturally enough, though. Miss Dunbar seemed intensely interested in Margaret, and kept asking questions until I was rather out of patience, particularly as I was trying to listen to a story which Professor Newton was telling. She wanted to know where I had met Margaret and if I knew her very well. I said that I met her at my uncle's home in Chicago. Was Margaret visiting there? No, she lived there. Oh, then she was some relative of my uncle's? And I carelessly said no, that her mother had charge of uncle's house. I should have thought twice before speaking, if I had not been giving my main attention to Professor Newton. As soon as I had made the remark, there seemed to be a volcanic eruption at my side, and I thought that Miss Dunbar would have hysterics on the spot. She said that she regretted the fact that Margaret was her room-mate; that she was not accustomed to rooming with servants, and, of course, she will be awfully disagreeable to her. I took a double room, but I intended to be alone. Now, however, I shall ask one of the professors to allow Margaret to come in with me. The sooner that is done, the better for all concerned. I wonder to whom I had better go?" "Go to Professor Newton," said Dolly promptly, "and take Miss Sutherland with you. She is Professor Newton's niece, and can help you out, if you need any assistance, but I do not suppose you will." "Thanks for the suggestion. I shall get the permission first, but possibly Margaret will not care to room with me after the hornet's nest I have raised. I wonder, Miss Alden, if you would ask her to come here while Miss Sutherland and I are interviewing Professor Newton?" "I shall be very glad to do so. It will be much better to have your talk here, than in her room, where Abby Dunbar would be liable to interrupt you at any moment. And, Miss Van Gerder, do not feel too conscience-stricken over your inadvertence. For my part, I believe that Margaret will be glad, after the first fuss is over. No one, then, can accuse her of sailing under false colors. Everything will be perfectly open and aboveboard." "It is good of you to say so, but I am sure that your room-mate does not hold that opinion. At least, I made no mention of her father. I presume that would be a still harder thing for Miss Dunbar to overlook." "I think," said Dolly persistently, "that it would have been better for all concerned, if you had said that Mr. Hamilton was your uncle's coachman. Then everything would have been told at once, and Margaret would have no future disclosures to dread." "I think I was sufficiently stupid as it was;" and then Mary and Miss Van Gerder went off to see Professor Newton, while Dolly went in search of Miss Hamilton.