CHAPTER XIV
A MEAN TRICK
If the teacher in charge had not been so deeply engrossed in conversation with Miss Romaine, Doris Maybel and Gladys Holt could never have reached their places at table without detection and subsequent reproof for tardiness.
As it was, they were very nearly caught. The culprits afterward declared with a good deal of indignation that it was certainly not Kate Speed's fault that they were not, for at the moment when, having slipped as silently as ghosts down the long room, they pulled back their chairs at table, thinking to have reached their goal at last and in safety, Kate Speed gave a loud cough that instantly attracted Miss Tully's attention to table three.
If the teacher had been alone neither girl could have escaped her keen gray eyes.
But Miss Romaine instantly claimed her attention again and the culprits sank thankfully into their places.
Across the table their glances challenged Kate Speed angrily. Others were looking at Kate, a disgusted question in their eyes.
Lily Darrow, her face red, sat with eyes fixed on her plate.
Kate Speed met the unfriendly glances turned in her direction with a toss of her head and a faint, disdainful smile on her lips.
"People who are late deserve to be shown up," she was heard to say in a loud stage whisper to Lily Darrow.
Doris Maybel seemed about to fling a wrathful reply across the table, but a vigorous stamp of Jessie's foot on hers beneath the table warned her to be cautious.
Miss Tully, in the act of seating herself at the table, glanced in their direction.
Silence fell upon table three and each girl stared innocently platewards.
Miss Tully took her seat and, though the teacher's back was still very rigid, the rest of the room seemed to relax. As the soup was brought in, conversation recommenced, a low-toned and guarded conversation, to be sure—for though the girls were encouraged to talk at meals, no loud laughter or conversation was allowed—at any rate, not with Miss Tully presiding over the room.
Nan and Sadie and Jo set to with a will upon the tempting dishes. They had not tasted food since the rather early lunch on the train, and they were very hungry.
"I only wish we had come to Laurel Hall in time for dinner instead of supper," Nan said in a low tone to Sadie. "I could do with a six course meal right now."
"This looks pretty good to me," returned Sadie, as the empty soup dishes were removed and platters of cold meat were passed around the table, along with tea biscuits.
A generous plate of egg salad was put at each girl's place with a glass of rich creamy milk. For dessert there was layer cake and homemade cookies and cup custard.
"We won't starve to death, that's one sure thing," said Jo, as she helped herself for the second time to meat and looked hungrily at the egg salad.
After dinner the chums wandered out into the beautiful grounds of Laurel Hall. Their new friends went with them, to "show them the sights."
"Though we can't stay out very long," Jessie said regretfully. "The rule is, every one in rooms by eight o'clock, lights out by nine. And with winter coming on and the days getting so short we hardly have any time at all after supper."
To the three Woodford girls the grounds about Laurel Hall were even more beautiful than they had imagined them.
The Hall was set in the midst of a considerable property. There were not many trees, for a great number of these had been sacrificed for the sake of the lawn that stretched like a piece of green velvet from the road almost to the borders of the lake. What trees there were were grand old patriarchs, tremendous in girth, heavy branches sweeping upward toward the sky.
About three of these beautiful old trees rustic benches had been fashioned, and these seats were almost always occupied by groups of laughing girls.
The shadows were falling thickly as a number of the girls made their way down to the boathouse on the shores of the lake. The water was only a shimmer of gray against a darker background.
The towering mountain that had seemed only picturesque in the brilliant glare of the afternoon sun now rose dark and mysterious against the shadowy sky.
Sight of the boathouse reminded the girls of the mysterious happenings connected with it.
"We aren't going inside, are we?" asked Sadie a shade nervously.
Doris Maybel laughed.
"Not a chance! It's strictly against the rules to enter the boathouse after dark."
Jo chuckled.
"For once we can enjoy obeying a rule!" she said.
As the Woodford chums and their new friends came nearer to the boathouse that loomed like a dark blot against the landscape, they were astonished and a bit startled to hear voices.
The fact that they were voices was little. The fact that they were men's voices was much.
The girls paused and looked at each other, uncertain whether to advance or retreat. Curiosity urged them on. Caution advised retreat.
"The thieves!" murmured Sadie uneasily. "I think we'd better get out of here!"
But Jo caught her arm.
"Wait a minute!" she cried. "Listen!"