Jane's face wore a serious expression.
"You say his sister went with them?"
"That was the plan. But, oh, Jane, I am suspected of treachery. I know
Miss Partridge and Miss Elting suspected that I was deceiving them this
morning. I didn't mean to, but I just couldn't see Cora disgraced and sent
home. Don't you see what it would have meant to her?"
Jane regarded her thoughtfully.
"Cora doesn't like you, Harriet. She and Patricia are your enemies, but I
don't know why. I have wondered if those two girls didn't have something
to do with that soup affair. Do you know that Cora came into the cook tent
from the front just as you sat down that night?"
"Yes, I know she did. She helped to haze me that night too. And--and--oh,
Jane, don't betray her, but I overheard Cora and Patricia talking the
other night. Words were dropped that left no doubt in my mind that Cora
had done that awful thing."
"Spoiling the soup?"
"Yes."
"The miserable sneak!" exploded Jane. "Let me tell her!" Jane sprang up.
Her face was flushed, her eyes snapping.
"Oh, no, no, no! She isn't to blame. It is Patricia, who is so vengeful,
and Cora is so weak. She has been influenced by the other girl. Oh, you
mustn't, you mustn't say a word to her! Promise me that you will not."
"I'd like to tell her what I think of her," breathed Jane in a low, tense
voice, shaking a clenched first "Oh, wouldn't I like to.
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