ool.

However, after that day nothing further happened. At a secret meeting
of the faculty it was decided to take no outward notice of these
disturbances, but to keep silent watch until such a time as the
culprit, or culprits, should betray themselves.

"He or she is bound to do so, after a time. There's always a hitch
somewhere in such mischievous schemes and nothing worse than mortal
hands has performed this 'witch work,'" said the Bishop calmly,
though vexed that such foolishness could be found at his beloved Oak
Knowe.

Then for many days the disturbances ceased.

Dorothy fell into the daily life of the school with all her heart,
making friends with her mates in her own Form and even with some of
the older girls. Best of all, she had lost all fear of the Lady
Principal, whose heart she had won by her devotion to little
Millikins. She even begged forgiveness for Winifred, against whom the
teacher still felt some resentment; saying to Dolly:

"It isn't what she did--in itself--so much as her broken trust. She
has been with me so long, she has been taught so constantly, that I
feel indignant at her deception. Anything but deception, Dorothy.
Remember that a treacherous person is more to be feared than an openly
wicked one."

"But, dear Miss Muriel, Winifred will never cheat again. Never,
I know. She won't go off bounds a step now, even though her
'restriction's' taken off. And she keeps away from me till she makes
me feel dreadfully. Says she doesn't want to 'contaminate' and get
me into trouble again. Please let her go nutting this afternoon with
Miss Aldrich's class."

"Very well. She may go."

"One thing more, Miss Tross-Kingdon. When may I, may we, go to see
Robin?"

The lady smiled. A sudden memory of the scene upon which she had
entered that rainy evening of her first visit to the cottage amused
her, and she answered graciously:

"Probably on Saturday, if you wish. Though I am still doubtful whether
your guardians would approve."

"I can answer for them, dear Miss Muriel. They are just the kind that
would like me to go. Some of Aunt Betty's dearest friends are very
poor. She finds them honester and more generous than the rich ones. As
for darling Uncle Seth, he learned to be a regular blacksmith, just so
he could live among them on 'even terms,' he said. Yet he's the
wisest, best man in all the world."

In the Lady Principal's private opinion he was also the most
eccentric; but she did not dash