CHAPTER X
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE OF A HOUSE OF TROUBLE
Jean did not return to Harlowe House for dinner that night. Instead sheturned her steps toward Holland House, where Althea Parker lived,assured that in Althea she would find sympathy. In spite of the factthat Jean lived at Harlowe House, a plain acknowledgment of her lack ofmeans, Althea shrewdly suspected that the mysterious freshman had comefrom a home of wealth, and was posing as a poor girl for some reasonbest known to herself. Jean's remarkable wardrobe had impressed herdeeply, while Jean herself carried out the impression of having beenbrought up in luxury. She was self-willed, extravagant, careless of thefuture, and her flippant opinion, delivered to Althea, of the ServiceBureau and work in general, was all that was needed to convince theshrewd junior of Jean's true position in life. Then, too, Jean wasextremely likable, although Althea stood a little in awe of herremarkable poise and a certain imperiousness that occasionally creptinto the girl's manner.
Jean rang the bell at Holland House with mingled feelings of resentmentand defiance. Resentment against Evelyn for daring to take her to task;defiance of Grace and her commands.
"Is Miss Parker in?" she inquired of the maid who opened the door.
"She just came in, miss."
"Very well. I'll go on upstairs. She won't mind me."
Jean knocked on Althea's door. Althea called an indifferent "Come in,"and she entered to find her engaged in reading a letter that had come bythe afternoon mail.
"Oh, hello, Jean," she drawled at sight of the other girl. "You musthave come in right behind me. What are you glowering about?"
"Evelyn is angry with me because I had the sale," began Jean. "That'swhat I came to tell you. I'm sorry I told her that Miss Harlowe hadforbidden me to have it. Now she thinks I ought to go to Miss Harloweand tell her that I disobeyed her before she hears of it from some othersource."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Althea. "Don't be so silly. Ten chances to oneshe'll never hear of it. If ever she does, it will probably be asancient history. I'll caution the girls again to keep still. Who toldEvelyn?"
"That Miss Correll. Evelyn saw her wearing my black and white checkcoat and recognized it," returned Jean gloomily. "She came rushing intomy room like a young tornado with the plea that Miss Harlowe would blameher for my misdeeds." Jean was tempted to add that which Evelyn had toldher in confidence. Then her better nature stirred, and she was silent.
"Evelyn isn't nearly as good company this year as she was last,"complained Althea. "Ever since the latter part of her freshman year,she's been so different. I've always had an idea," Althea lowered hervoice, "that last spring she broke some rule of the college and ranaway. One night, just before college closed--it was long after teno'clock, too--Miss Harlowe telephoned me and asked if Evelyn were withme. I found out afterward that she had gone to New York all by herself.She'd never been there but once before when she spent a week-end withme, and she didn't know a soul. I never could find out anything else,though. Evelyn went to her classes on Monday, and not one word did sheever say about it. I didn't find out about the New York part of it untilthis fall, though. A Willston man whom we both know saw her in New Yorkwith that clever Miss West, who wrote 'Loyalheart.'"
Jean listened with attentive gravity. She guessed that Althea hadperhaps hit upon the truth. Evelyn had confessed to her that there hadbeen that in her freshman year of which she was ashamed. She had said itwas about clothes, yet what had clothes to do with breaking the rules ofOverton and running away to New York? Whatever it was, it should remainEvelyn's secret. She would tell Althea nothing.
"Let's go to Vinton's for dinner," she proposed, with an abrupt changeof subject. "I've plenty of money now--while it lasts."
"All right," agreed Althea, "only I mustn't stay out late. I've afrightful lesson in physics to study for to-morrow."
Jean did not particularly enjoy her dinner. In spite of her defiantmanner she had begun to feel slightly conscience-stricken. She almostwished she had not gone on with the sale. Still she could have obtainedthe necessary money in no other way. Now that the mischief was done shecould hope only that Miss Harlowe would hear nothing of it--not for along time, at any rate.
As she crossed the campus and ran lightly up the steps of Harlowe Houseshe resolved to shake off her recent fear of the discovery, on Grace'spart, of her disobedience and act as though nothing had happened.
Her resolution was destined to receive an unexpected jolt. "MissHarlowe wants to see you, Miss Brent," were the words with which themaid greeted her as she stepped into the hall.
Jean's heart sank. So it had come already. She stopped for a moment inthe hall to gather her forces. Her feeling of penitence vanished. Shethrew up her head with a defiant jerk and walked boldly into the littleoffice where Grace sat making up her expense account for November.
"You wished to see me, Miss Harlowe?" Her tone was coldly interrogative,her eyes hostile, as she stared steadily at Grace.
Grace looked up from her work and calmly studied the pretty, belligerentgirl standing before her. In that glance she realized what a difficulttask lay before her.
"Yes, Miss Brent, I wished to talk with you," she answered. "Sit down,please."
Jean slid reluctantly into the chair opposite Grace, surveying her withan expression which said plainly, "Well, why don't you begin?"
"Did you have a sale of your clothes in your room one week ago lastSaturday?"
The directness of Grace's question astonished Jean. She found herselfanswering, "Yes," with equal promptness.
"Why did you disobey me?" asked Grace.
"Because I needed the money," declared Jean boldly, "and I couldn't earnit, Miss Harlowe; I just couldn't."
Grace gazed reflectively at the flushed face opposite her own. "MissBrent," she began, "when first you came to Harlowe House I believed thatit was not necessary for me to know certain things which you did notwish to divulge. I might still be of that opinion if you had notdisobeyed me. It is most peculiar for a girl to come to Overton utterlywithout funds, yet possessing quantities of the most expensive clothes.I have always felt assured of your right to be an Overton and a HarloweHouse girl, yet others might not regard you so leniently. That is why Irefused to allow you to have the sale. I feared you would bring downundue criticism upon you, and upon me as well. Once you became a subjectfor criticism you might be obliged to explain to the dean or thepresident of the Overton College what you have refused to explain to me.It was to protect you that I refused your request. Since you have seenfit to disregard my authority I can do but one thing. I must insist thatyou will tell me fully what you have, so far, kept a secret. In order toprotect you I must know everything. I can no longer go on in the dark."
Jean stood staring at Grace. A look of stubborn resolve crept into herface. Grace, watching her intently, knew what the answer would be. Thestrange girl opened her lips to speak. Then, obeying her natural impulseto give the other person the greatest possible chance, Grace raised aprotesting hand.
"Don't say you won't do as I ask, Miss Brent. Take a little time tothink over the matter. I am going to give you until after Thanksgivingto decide whether or not you will trust me. Remember my sole desire isto help you."
For the first time Grace's sweet earnestness seemed to awaken aresponsive chord in the heart of the obstinate freshman. The ready colordyed her cheeks crimson. The hard, defiant light left her eyes.
"If only she would tell me now and have it over with," thought Grace,noting the signs of softening on Jean's part. The girl appeared to beconsidering Grace's proposal in the spirit in which it had been made.Then, all in an instant, she changed. It was as though she had suddenlyrecalled something disagreeable.
"There is really no use in waiting until after Thanksgiving for myanswer. I can't tell you. I suppose you will send me away because Iwon't tell you, but if I did tell you, you would send me away just thesame. So you see it doesn't really make much difference. It was sillyin me
to come here. I might have known better," she ended with amirthless smile.
Grace regarded Jean with growing annoyance. She had been offered achance to explain herself and she had refused it. True, Grace could alsorefuse to allow her to remain a member of Harlowe House, but this shedid not wish to do. Her pride whispered to her that among the girls whowere enrolled as members of the household, made possible by Mrs. Gray'sgenerosity, there had been no failures. Jean Brent should not be thefirst. She would bear with her a little longer.
"I repeat, Miss Brent," she said, "that I do not wish you to answer meuntil after Thanksgiving. Then, if you decide, as I hope you will, to befrank with me, I promise you that I will do my utmost to protect you."
Jean's only response was, "Good night, Miss Harlowe." Then she turnedand left the office.
Grace sat poking holes in an unoffending sheet of paper with her leadpencil. She wondered what Jean Brent's secret could possibly be, and howshe could best reach this stubborn, self-centered freshman. And in herwholehearted effort to be of service to the girl, who apparently neededher help, she did not dream that she was laying the cornerstone of ahouse of trouble for herself.