She found out that Jean had gone to the post-office. One of the gardeners had seen her cross to where the fortune teller2 sat in the woods. Then, someone else remembered that she had seen her run all the way up the path. Mrs. Pangborn determined3 that this fortune teller should be put out of the place, as she was plainly an evil influence.
Taking the simplest and most reasonable course first, the principal of Glenwood found her way to the cabin of the alleged4 fortune teller.
Her dignity seemed offended, as she stepped into the ill-smelling room. Madam Shebad was not so stupid as to think that she had, in the white-haired 186 woman, a customer, but, nevertheless, she was equal to the occasion.
“I have come to complain,” began Mrs. Pangborn without preliminaries, “about your receiving my pupils here for the purpose of telling fortunes. Those young ladies are in my charge. I am responsible for them to their parents, and if you again allow them to come here I shall have to make known your business to the proper officials. I suppose you know it is against the law.”
“I never told any fortunes to your girls,” said the woman. “I told them the truth. If they would tell you the truth, they would bear me out.”
“I did not come to discuss your methods,” said the principal, “but just to say to you that I will not allow my girls to visit this place——”
“But I would like to tell you,” interrupted the woman, “that I only told those girls what I really knew. I did not tell any fortunes.”
Mrs. Pangborn stopped to realize what the woman meant. How could she know, this stranger, such things as she had told those girls, for, since the happening, bit by bit, information was coming to the principal that aroused her suspicion. She had heard, for instance, that the torn letter was mentioned to Jean Faval. Mrs. Pangborn had handled that letter when it came to Jean, in the regular mail. A maid had reported that she had seen a letter at Dorothy’s door, but, believing187 it to be left there for some one, she had not carried it off in her cleaning. That was how Tavia came to get it.
“Will you tell me who informed you of my pupils’ affairs?” Mrs. Pangborn asked.
“No, I cannot do that,” replied the woman, “but you may know that some one did tell me of them.”
Here was a new problem—some one had come to this woman, and told her what to tell the girls! Who could it be, and what could have been their motive5 in doing so?
“You see,” said the woman, “you have no charge against me. I did not tell any fortunes!”
As she understood that this was why the woman had argued simply to clear herself, Mrs. Pangborn left the place.
It would not be well, she decided6, to make any inquiry7 just then, as the girls had been through so many little troubles in the short term. But she, of course, would have to have them guarded—especially Jean, Zada and Tavia. She had no fear that Dorothy would do anything dishonorable.
Entering the classroom, the greatly respected principal looked about her. She saw Dorothy busy at her work, she saw Tavia bent8 over her books, with one eye on them and the other roaming about.
188 The visit of the principal was always regarded as a matter of importance. Now every pupil sat up straight, and took that opportunity of resting her eyes from letters.
“I just want to say, young ladies,” began Mrs. Pangborn, “that I have been surprised at the liberty some of you have taken, from this school. I have never felt it necessary before to give out such positive orders. I do not know who may be to blame, but I will not again excuse any girl for such lax order and discipline, as might seem to her a fitting reason for her to visit a common fortune teller!
“You must all know that there is no such thing as the possibility of any human being telling of future events. If such a thing were possible do you not see what a wonderful advantage it would be in the world’s greatest happenings? I do not think I need go further into this subject, other than to say that I positively9 forbid any member of Glenwood Hall from going to any fortune teller. If I find that any girl has disobeyed this rule I shall be obliged to dismiss her.”
A dead silence followed these few words. Tavia’s eyes only might be seen to show a glow of satisfaction. And yet Tavia had under her mattress10 a letter with this Madam Shebad’s name on the corner!
And no one had yet found out where Tavia and189 Edna had been when Tavia sprained11 her ankle.
Dorothy’s eyes glowed nervously12. Zada looked directly out of the window, and, as she bit her lips, Mrs. Pangborn wondered why she should seem so strained. Edna settled all her movements on Tavia, and if the teachers had called a fire drill, likely Edna would have asked Tavia what to do before she did anything.
Jean was still suffering from her collapse13, and was not in the classroom.
It was a beautiful autumn day, and when she had given her positive instructions, Mrs. Pangborn thought it might be as well for her classes to go out into the woods, for the last of the season’s nature work, as to remain in the room struggling with technicalities.
Miss Cummings, Miss Hays and Miss Boylan were told to take the classes to the woods. They were to bring back specimens14 of the dogwood, the late flowers of the underbrush, and such varieties of outdoor life as make the Autumn famous.
Dorothy was with Zada, Tavia of course was with Edna, and Cologne was so close to Molly Richards that one could scarcely tell whose sleeves were blue or whose white.
“Does any young lady know where to find iron-weed?” asked Miss Cummings, who was leading the party.
Iron-weed was as common in Glenwood as the190 grass itself, and therefore every girl wanted to go for it in a different direction. Finally it was agreed that the swamp, near the station, might furnish the best specimens.
Cecilia Reynolds and Hazel Mason rushed on ahead, without any regard to the teacher’s talk, as she tried to instruct the class on varieties of vegetation, and its relation to humanity.
Reaching the swamp, all sorts of nature “weeds” were discovered. The girls, glad to be entirely15 free from the schoolroom for that beautiful day, set to digging up roots and bulbs, hunting out frogs and snails16, and doing all the absurd things that students usually do when allowed a day in the woods.
“Isn’t it too bad Jean could not be with us,” said Cecilia to Hazel.
“Yes,” replied Hazel rather doubtfully. “But what makes Jean so bitter toward the Glens? I think the best girls are in the older club.”
“Then why don’t you go with them,” replied Cecilia sarcastically17.
“I would if I were eligible18. I think Rose,—Mary and Dorothy the very nicest girls in the school,” said Hazel, just as Molly Richards found a little red lizard19, not more than an inch long, and just cute enough for a stick pin.
The lizard was placed upon a flat stone and was, for the time being, the centre of all attraction.191 So beautifully red, so small, so perfect, and just like a pattern for an alligator20!
“It must not be killed,” said Miss Cummings. “We will put it in our aquarium21.”
“I’ll take it,” offered Tavia, for whom a bug22, that could crawl, creep or fly, had no terrors.
“Thank you,” said Miss Cummings frigidly23, “but I prefer to take care of it myself.”
With this she took the tiny terra-cotta crawler on a bit of paper, and carefully placed it in her handbag.
Fearful that the insect might die the teacher did not close the bag.
Have you ever seen a lizard in the woods in Autumn? Do you think you could keep one in an open handbag?
The woods were explored to the satisfaction of the teachers, and the delight of their pupils. Then they all started for the Hall.
At a little spring house, a shed built over a crystal spring, they stopped for a drink. Tavia, of course dipped her very nose in the water; and those who did not intend to do likewise did so without intending.
But how beautiful that little strip of woodland road was! No wonder teachers and pupils lingered.
Just at the old water-wheel, every one stopped again. Falling leaves made the spot a painting,192 and Miss Cummings undertook to explain what the wheel had been, and what its ruins meant.
Suddenly she squirmed. Dorothy was nearest her and asked if she could help her.
“It’s the lizard!” the instructor24 declared. “He has gotten out of my bag and is just now crawling up my arm, inside my sleeve to my collar bone!”
“Mercy!” exclaimed Dorothy instinctively25! “Do you suppose we can catch him?”
“If you do not,” said Miss Cummings, “I shall have a spasm26 of nerves. I have heard of fleas27, but a lizard——!”
Her remarks were cut short by the necessity for tracing the progress of the reptile28. He was just under her left arm now.
“We will have to take your waist off,” said Tavia, overjoyed at the prospect29.
“Do it quickly,” begged the teacher. “The thing is eating my cuticle30.”
“Which part is that?” asked Tavia, as if she didn’t know.
They sat the teacher on a tree stump31, and it did seem as if more girls wanted to help get that lizard than could possibly handle just one woman.
“Here it is!” shouted Cologne, grabbing something small and soft.
Miss Cummings was now almost hysterical32.
“It’s worse than a mouse,” muttered Zada.
“Much worse,” sobbed33 the afflicted34 one.
193 “Did you get it, Cologne?” asked Dorothy.
“No, that was a sachet bag. I thought I had it though,” Cologne answered.
“Here!” yelled Tavia, as she held out, on the palm of her hand, the pretty little red lizard.
“You may bring it back to the aquarium,” said Miss Cummings calmly, as the three girls tried to hook up her waist.
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1
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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teller
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| n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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8
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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sprained
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| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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14
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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15
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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snails
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| n.蜗牛；迟钝的人；蜗牛( snail的名词复数 ) | |
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sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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alligator
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| n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼) | |
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aquarium
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| n.水族馆，养鱼池，玻璃缸 | |
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bug
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| n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器 | |
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frigidly
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| adv.寒冷地；冷漠地；冷淡地；呆板地 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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fleas
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| n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求） | |
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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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30
cuticle
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| n.表皮 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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32
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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33
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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