“It’s only Judith,” whispered Jane. “Come on, Helen. I won’t let anyone see you. You are just too scared to speak. Poor little dear.” Judith was too surprised to speak. Also she sensed Helen had one of her nervous spells, and very prudently Judith wrapt her arm around the shaking figure, and together the three trudged along to the Ivy Nook, the campus house of Helen’s lodgings. CHAPTER XXIV—A CLUE TO THE MYSTERY “Mrs. Weatherbee would like to see you, Miss Allen.” This summons from Molly the hall girl, aroused Jane from a somewhat disconnected reverie—if deep thinking on a dark subject might be so termed. Jane was occupied with Marian and Dolorez, and wondering what they had done to that bunch of roses, now known to have been contributed by them to Helen at the Barn Swifts’ playlet. What was written on that tiny card that worked such unpleasant mischief? “Very well, Molly. I shall go to the office at once,” replied Jane, rousing herself and suiting her action to the words. Mrs. Weatherbee’s scholarly face was inscrutable, and gave no hint of the purport of her call for Jane. She smiled, but she always did that, and she was very cordial, but likewise, she was always that. Jane was naturally apprehensive when she returned the smile and took the chair offered. “Miss Allen, I am somewhat disturbed,” began the directress. “Since the beginning of the term I have endeavored to keep my official hands off the girls’ affairs, except as they relate directly to the school work, but I wonder now, if that has not been somewhat of a mistake.” “I hope that I have not been instrumental in effecting that regime, Mrs. Weatherbee, if it has been a mistake,” Jane quickly offered. “Oh, no, not that. I liked your spirit when you took the class presidency, and pledged your efforts to avoid the usual squabbles getting into the hands of the faculty; but even so good a plan may be abused.” Jane wanted to plunge into the heart of the trouble, whatever it might be, at once. This being polite and beating around the bush, always vexed her. But it was the way with the faculty. “May I know to what you refer, Mrs. Weatherbee?” Jane asked in the most respectful tone. “Yes, my dear, certainly. I have brought you here to tell you that precisely.” She smoothed out the blotter and patted a few papers—anything, Jane thought, to kill time. Mrs. Weatherbee asked finally, “What do you know about this plan of Marian Seaton’s and Dolorez Vincez to canvass the college to get customers for the so-called beauty shop someone is opening at the very gate of our grounds?” “Why, Mrs. Weatherbee! I know absolutely nothing about it. In fact, I have not even heard it mentioned before!” Jane almost gasped. “I am glad to hear you say so. I felt you wouldn’t have allowed such an unheard of thing to get hold without coming to me.” “Indeed, I would not,” said Jane seriously. She still gasped.