CHAPTER V
CALLED TO ACCOUNT
The cutter drew up with a flourish and a jingle of bells at the maindoor of Lakeview Hall, and Walter Mason helped the girls out.
"So good of you to bring us over," said Nan, as Walter's hand held hersfor perhaps a second more than was absolutely necessary.
"Tickled to death to have the chance," replied the youth. "And say, Nan,count me in on that subscription for Mrs. Bragley."
"Thanks just as much," was Nan's response, as she and Bess ran up thesteps, "but I imagine you've done more than your share already. Who paidfor all those good things you brought over in your sleigh? Answer methat."
"Give you three guesses," laughed Walter. "And now, good night, girls.Tell me when you're going over again and I'll be here with the cutter."
Another moment and he was off with a farewell wave of the hand, and Nanand Bess entered the Hall, where they speedily found themselves thecenter of a chattering bevy of girls, all trying to talk at once.
"Tell us all about it, Nan," pleaded Rhoda Hammond. "Did the doctor getthere?"
"Was Mrs. Bragley badly hurt?" asked Laura.
"Not seriously," answered Nan. "The doctor and the nurse both came, andeverything is going on all right. She'll be able to walk again in acouple of weeks, they think."
"Don't tell them another word, Nan Sherwood, until we have had somethingto eat," laughed Bess. "I'm just dying from hunger, and I suppose we'relate now for supper."
Linda Riggs, who had been standing apart with a sneer on her lips,turned to Cora Courtney and said in a voice that was not so low but allcould hear:
"So that's why she stayed to nurse the old woman; so she could get aride home with Walter Mason. She's foxy, all right."
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Linda Riggs!" Bess Harley criedhotly. But Nan laid her hand soothingly on her arm.
"Never mind her, Bess," she counseled with a level glance at Linda."What else can you expect? Let's go in to supper."
"Linda is peeved because the _Gay Girl_ was beaten this afternoon,"laughed Laura Polk. "You know she thought she had a mortgage on therace."
"Was she beaten?" asked Bess, with eager interest. "I declare, mymind's been so full of the accident that I'd almost forgotten that wehad a race."
"Yes," replied Laura gleefully. "She was beaten by more than a hundredfeet."
"And she had three chances where we had only one," put in Rhoda. "Wemight have beaten our own mark if we had had our full number of trips."
"There's not much of the sport about Linda," commented Grace. "Any onewho beats her makes her an enemy. She takes it as a personal insult ifany one dares to get ahead of her."
"She can't be any more of an enemy to us than she always has been,"concluded Bess. "But come along, Nan, and let's eat. My appetite'skeener than ever, now that I know we won."
"Was there ever anything the matter with your appetite, Bess?"questioned Nan with a smile.
"Sometimes--not often. But, oh, Nan! neither of us would have had muchappetite if we had seriously injured that poor woman."
"You are right there. Every time I think of the narrow escape we had Ihave to shiver."
"Yes, and supposing the sled had gone into a tree, or one of those sharprocks! Oh, it would have been dreadful!"
"We can count ourselves very lucky."
"And to think we won the race after all! That's the best news I've heardin a long time."
"Oh, no, Bess. The best news is our escape, and Mrs. Bragley's, fromserious injury. The race doesn't count alongside of that."
"Well, maybe you are right. Nevertheless, I am awfully glad we won."
The rest of the girls had already had their supper, but there was plentyleft, and Nan and Bess did full justice to it. They had scarcelyfinished when, a message came to Nan that Dr. Prescott, the head of theschool, wished to see her.
"I always feel nervous when I hear that Doctor Beulah wants to see me,"remarked Laura, the madcap of the school. "But perhaps Nan has a betterconscience than I usually have. Run along now, Nan, and take yourmedicine, and then come back and tell us all about it."
Nan went at once to the principal's room, and was graciously received bythe serene, handsome woman who directed the activities of Lakeview Hall.
Dr. Beulah Prescott was a woman of culture and marked executive ability.For many years she had been the head of the school, and had won for itan enviable position among institutions of its kind. She had a large andvaluable clientele, which was constantly expanding.
She was an extremely good-looking woman, and exquisitely groomed anddressed, although with an utter absence of ostentation. She knew thevalue of appearance, especially before the critical eyes of herschoolgirls, and never allowed herself to be seen at a disadvantage.Her rule was mild, but just and firm, and all the girls knew that shewas not to be trifled with. Behind her back they often referred to heras Doctor Beulah, but none permitted herself any familiarity in herpresence. Her poise was perfect. No one had ever seen her angry orflustered. When she did not inspire ardent affection, she alwayscommanded the genuine respect of her pupils.
She greeted Nan pleasantly as the latter entered, and asked her to beseated.
"I hear you came near having a serious accident this afternoon, Nan,"she said, "and I have sent for you to have you tell me all about it."
Nan told in detail the events of the afternoon, and the doctor listenedwith keen interest, interrupting once in a while to make some incidentperfectly clear.
"It was a very narrow escape," she commented, when Nan had finished. "Iam thankful beyond words that none of the girls was hurt or killed, asthey so easily might have been. And I want to congratulate you on theway you played your part. I notice you left that out of your story, butothers have already told me how cool and clear-headed you were throughit all. I'm glad that you happened to be steering."
Nan flushed at the words of praise, and murmured rather uncomfortablythat she had done only what any other of the girls would have done inher place.
"I differ with you there," replied Dr. Prescott, with a smile. "But wewon't discuss that. What must be done is to make the coasting safer inthe future. After this, I will have some one stationed at that crossingto warn passers-by. As for that poor woman, I will see that all theexpenses of her illness are paid and that she is compensated besides forthe fright and pain she has undergone."
"Pardon me, Dr. Prescott," said Nan with some diffidence, "but the girlsfeel that they ought to do most of the helping. They have alreadycontributed a little, and they are planning to do more."
"A very commendable feeling," agreed the head of the school graciously."But at least you will let me help. I know Mrs. Bragley. She is a veryworthy woman."
"She seems to be," remarked Nan. "Her little house is poor, buteverything about it is neat and clean. I gathered from some things shesaid that she used to be in fairly comfortable circumstances."
"That is true," was the response. "Her husband was a hard-working manand had saved up some money. But he was inclined to invest his savingsin rather risky enterprises, and I imagine he was swindled out of mostof it. It seems to me that I have heard something of that kind, though Idon't recall it clearly."
"I would like to go over to the cottage as often as I can in the nextfew days to see what I can do to help, if you have no objections,"remarked Nan.
"None whatever," rejoined Dr. Prescott. "In fact, I shall be very gladto have you do so, provided, of course, that you don't let it interferewith your school work. You can go now, Nan. You must be tired after thestrain and excitement of this afternoon, and I would suggest that you goto bed early."
Nan bade the principal good-night and hurried up to her room, where shefound a group of her special friends all on the _qui vive_ to learn ofher interview.