Jane was too surprised for utterance. That a teacher should stand up in their games and try “to best” a set of whole-hearted young school girls! “I would not allow this to become public, as such occurrences would have an unwholesome effect on the morale of the school,” Mrs. Weatherbee went on. “But I knew it would filter through. Such sensations always do get abroad—like steam or smoke; we can’t control the influence.” “But Blindwood!” Jane now repeated. “Wasn’t that where—Helen went to school?” “Yes,” replied the directress, “Helen was a pupil there also.” “Then that accounts——” Jane hesitated. “Why, I wonder, did Helen not recognize Dolorez?” “They meet very seldom, and Miss Vincez has changed. She may have been a charter customer at her wonderful beauty parlor for as I am informed from Blindwood, Miss Vincez there was a striking blonde.” “Oh, that is it! She has changed her hair!” Jane could not refrain from exclaiming. “And she knows Helen, and knows her real name of course. Oh, Mrs. Weatherbee, I am sure Dolorez Vincez was responsible for that shock Helen received with the bouquet. Whatever was written on the little card simply shocked Helen out of her senses.” “Precisely,” replied Mrs. Weatherbee. “But I have not questioned Helen. I believe the child is on the verge of a nervous collapse, and however kindly we would go about it, a word might be more than she could stand. She is so high strung and temperamental. I have even had her excused from many lessons, believing that the best plan. Helen will do all she can to meet her obligations, and there is no reason why she should be driven.” “Oh, Mrs. Weatherbee!” and impulsively Jane threw her arms around the woman who stood as mother to the Wellington girls. “How good, and kind you are!” “Thank you, my dear. Such gratitude more than repays me. I sometimes fear my necessary intervention may be taken as interference. But when I have done my duty, and all turns out well then—I am glad.” “What can I do to assist you in this matter, Mrs. Weatherbee?” asked Jane earnestly. “My dear, all I want you to do is to use your influence privately with the young ladies, to show them the absurdity of subscribing to anything like that so-called course of treatments. You see, the danger is, some of them may actually have given their money, and we cannot force Miss Vincez’ friend—whoever she may be—to refund it. However, under any conditions, I shall not allow a single Wellington girl to visit this place—this beauty parlor.” “I will gladly do all I can, Mrs. Weatherbee, to counteract the canvass. I wish I had heard of it sooner. But there has been so much going on lately. And being anxious about our big basketball game, I have been keeping the girls at practice daily.”