The Professor seemed too surprised to answer for a moment. Or it might have been that Miss Alice Fern was lingering at his elbow and embarra.s.sed him.

"Where?" he asked.

"He spent last night in the cloister study. Now, he's at the inn. He asked me to let you know. I met him on the road. He's very unhappy."

"How did he happen to be in the study?"

"He--he had no money."

"And now he's at the inn? Has he seen anyone but you?"

"No." Molly blushed hotly.

"I'll come right over. Thank you very much."

"Now, Edwin, what a nuisance!" broke in the voice of Miss Fern.

"Good-bye. Thank you again. I really must, Alice. Very impor----"

The receiver had been hung up and the connection lost.

"Oh, these cousins!" Molly reflected with a laugh as she hurried up to her room.

There was a gay party at the McLeans' that night and one unexpected guest arrived just before dinner. It was Professor Green. They squeezed him in somehow at the end of the table with the doctor, and the two made merry together like school boys. Molly had never seen the Professor of English Literature in such joyous spirits. After dinner, when the dancing commenced, he sought her out and led her to a secluded sofa in the back hall. She began at once by asking about Mr. Blount, but the Professor was not listening.

"That's one of the prettiest dresses I've seen you wear," he interrupted. "Yellow is not becoming to most people, but it is to you.

Probably because it has the same golden quality that's in your hair."

"I'm glad you like it," said Molly, turning red under his steady gaze.

"I found your note on my study floor," he went on.

"I was afraid you wouldn't remember what I was talking about, after all," she exclaimed. "But I had to write it. I have never really been happy since I said that cruel thing to you. I was so wretched the day afterward, and when I rushed to find you in your study, you were gone!"

she broke off with a tearful glance into his eyes.

The Professor beamed upon her.

"So you were unhappy," he said, as if the statement was not entirely unpleasing.

"Oh, yes. I know now that you were quite right to tell Miss Walker about that silly episode of the burying of the slipper."

"But I never told her. I know the story, of course, and the explanation.

The President told me herself."

"But who did tell, then?"

"That I can't say."

It was now Molly's turn to beam on the Professor.

"I am glad you didn't tell her," she exclaimed in tones of great relief.

"You see, you didn't inform on Judith Blount that time, and I was hurt.

I couldn't help from being. I was really awfully sore."

"My dear child," said the Professor hurriedly, "promise hereafter to regard me as a faithful friend. Never doubt my sincerity again."

"I promise," answered Molly, feeling intensely proud without knowing why.

Then the talk drifted to Mr. Blount.

"And you haven't mentioned meeting him?" he asked. "Not even to Miss Kean?"

Molly shook her head.

"You are a very unusual young woman, Miss Brown. It's important to keep Mr. Blount's presence here a secret. If word got out that he had come back, there would be a great hue and cry in the papers. I have him with me now at my rooms until Richard gets here. The family will be very grateful to you for your kindness to him."

Lawrence Upton was coming down the hall to claim Molly for a dance.

"Are you going back to the Ferns' to-morrow?" she asked hurriedly.

"I think not," answered the Professor with the ghost of a smile. "I am detained here on business."

The next morning Molly received a short note from Professor Green, inclosing a ten dollar bill.

There was a postscript which said:

"I've opened a barrel of greenings. Better come around and get some."

CHAPTER XVIII.

HEALING THE BLIND.

"But, Madeleine, I never touched an iron in my life. I wouldn't know how to go about it," protested Judith Blount.

"It's high time you learned then, child. It's a very useful piece of knowledge, I a.s.sure you. You may begin on handkerchiefs first. They are easy, just a flat surface, and it doesn't matter if you scorch one, especially as it's your own. Test the iron like this, see. Pick it up with the holder, wet your finger and touch the bottom. If it gives out a sizzly sound, it's fairly hot and may be used on something damp. It will surely scorch dry material. Always sprinkle. Rough-dry things can't be ironed decently unless they have been sprinkled and allowed to get damp through and through."

Madeleine Pet.i.t's unceasing flow of conversation did not stop while Judith took her first lesson in ironing.

"You see," continued Madeleine, "I've made quite a name for myself for doing up fine things and I really need an a.s.sistant, Judith. And, since you need the money, and I like you better than any girl in college, I want you to help me."

Judith winced at the mention of poverty, but her face softened when Madeleine spoke of friendship.