“Oh, yes, my dear, and that is quite right. I do not want to spoil your pretty head with compliments, but you must know that we all appreciate what you are doing. Your leadership for the juniors has given us perfectly splendid results this far.” “Thank you, Mrs. Weatherbee. But really I am only doing what anyone would do, and I feel rather foolish to be complimented. It is just a case of being in line. Someone has to lead.” “That is a fine spirit to view it in, Jane,” Mrs. Weatherbee never used first names—that is, seldom indeed. The occasion must have been one of singular confidence. “But we recall that you did not fall into this place without well-deserved merit,” she commented. “This is a big college and we have many fine girls, so that those chosen to lead must have been qualified. However, I want to say a word about our little Helen. She surprised me greatly with her wonderful skill at the violin. You know when she came to us, she had been sort of lost—that is, her friends had abandoned her.” “Yes, Mrs. Weatherbee,” said Jane simply, choking back her interest. “Well, I have thought since we might have traced them by their letters, which must have been in the possession of the Blindwood faculty. But I was restrained from doing this by the attitude of Helen herself. She fairly begged me not to seek her friends. Strange, I thought.” “I have found her the same with every line I attempted to uncover in her interest,” said Jane. “But why she is so fearful of being discovered I cannot guess. Still, she is so sweet, and gentle, and I felt we might surely regard her wishes. After all, we have no dealings with her friends. She has proven her worth and she is our—guest. So I have almost decided, Mrs. Weatherbee, as far as I am concerned, Helen may remain our mysterious orphan. You must have heard the absurd story about my having adopted her.” “Yes, that was the first inkling I had of these foolish tales. But it was so very foolish it died by its own hand. However, as you say, my dear, we have only to deal with Helen, and she is beyond reproach, so for the present at least, I quite agree with you. We have no reason to bother about her antecedents. Now run along. And be wise. Don’t take too many into your confidence. You may trust Judith. I am sure. I am beginning to think of you as do the girls. I hear them call you the Two Jays.” This playful thrust enlivened Jane and struck a responsive chord in her rather drooping spirits. It would be good to confide in Judy, at least she, Jane thought, was human enough to enjoy the beauty parlor joke with her chum. And wouldn’t Judy just howl! CHAPTER XXV—TO THE VICTORS “Whoopee! Red Head! My ankle is as good as new, and I am going to be in the big game. Now let the Breslins beware!” “Are you sure, Judith, it is entirely well? You know ankles have a way of kinking up unexpectedly,” Jane warned.