"I can heartily agree with you on that point," replied Phillip
Stanley, gravely. "But I was hoping that I could be of service to
her, for we owe her much for her wonderful presence of mind and
practical common sense. But for that Dorothy would have been badly
burned and a great sufferer at this moment, instead of having gone
to bed the happiest girl in the building and full of gratitude to
Miss Minturn for giving her so much pleasure. Will you say to her,
if there is any way I can serve her, I shall be only too glad of
the opportunity?"
"Indeed I will, and I shall slip away very soon and go back to
her, although I am sure she does not really need me. I am glad for
her sake, however, that tomorrow will be Saturday."
"May I tell my sister what you have told me?" Dr. Stanley
inquired. "I know it would greatly relieve her mind, for she is
much disturbed because Miss Minturn cannot be found."
"Yes; I am sure Kathie would be willing, under the circumstances.
I know her only fear was that she might be found before her work
was done," Miss Reynolds said, after considering a moment. "I
think," she added, "she would prefer not to have Dorothy told
anything, except, perhaps, that her dress was injured."
"Yes; it would mar her pleasure," her companion observed; "in
fact, we have said nothing about the contretemps to anyone but the
faculty as yet, fearing it might spoil the evening for many. We
cannot be too thankful that it was no worse; if it had occurred
before that last tableau was over, there is no telling how serious
it might have been, with so many thin dresses and all those paper
flowers," he concluded, gravely, then bowed himself away.
After making the round of the room, Miss Reynolds sought Sadie and
told her that as Katherine was not feeling quite herself, she
would spend the night with her; then she stole away and went back
to her charge.
Katherine aroused when she entered the room, but showed no signs
of present suffering.
"How is Dorothy?" she questioned, eagerly.
"She was not harmed in the least, and 'went to bed the happiest
girl in the building,' so I was told."
Katherine heaved a sigh of relief.
She asked for a glass of water and drank thirstily when it was
brought to her.
"Can I do anything more for you, Kathie?" her friend inquired.
The girl's eyes wandered to the books on her desk.
"Shall I read?--what?"
"The twenty-third psalm, please."
Miss Reynolds found and read it as given and interpreted in
"Science and Health": "Divine Love is my Shepherd; I shall not
want. Love maketh me to lie down in green pastures; Love leadeth
me beside still waters;" [Footnote: "Science and Health," page
16.] and so on to the end.
Then she turned to her own marker and read for herself a while.
The room was very quiet, for the revelers below were so far away
they could not be heard. Only a strain of music from the orchestra
was now and then wafted on a gentle breeze to them through an open
window.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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