Chapter X
MISS FIELDS' VISIT
"I am going with you!" Ricky said firmly. Gale looked at Doctor Norcothelplessly. When Ricky was determined upon a thing nothing could changeher mind.
"Why?" Gale ventured.
"I want to see what this female Simon Legree looks like," Ricky saidcalmly. "You may need my sunny presence to help persuade her."
"There won't be much use for persuasion I'm afraid," Gale said drearily."Either she has the money or she hasn't."
Yesterday Gale had received a telegram with the news that Miss Fieldswould be in Briarhurst this afternoon for merely an hour. As a resultDoctor Norcot and Gale were going to the railroad station to meet herwhen Ricky had descended on them with the news that she was going along.Gale was glad of the other girl's companionship for the Doctor wasstrangely silent.
The train was late and Gale found it hard to conceal her impatience. Shewas impatient for Phyllis' Aunt to arrive and yet she dreaded meetingher. The Adventure Girls had always feared the silent woman in the houseon the hill. Now Gale did not fancy giving her the news about Phyllis.She would let Doctor Norcot handle the situation.
The woman that descended from the train was the same stern person Galehad known in Marchton. What change she had expected Gale did not know.She only felt now, suddenly, definitely, that Phyllis' case was lostbefore it was ever presented. This woman would not be charitable orgenerous.
The three had planned to take her to the one restaurant in the littlevillage for luncheon. There, seated in a booth by themselves, Gale letDoctor Norcot tell Miss Fields all about Phyllis while she and Rickylistened.
The Doctor was eloquent in her praise of Phyllis. In the end shestressed particularly the need for the operation.
Gale forgot the dessert before her. With the silent Ricky she watchedthe sharp features of the woman opposite her. Miss Fields was regardingthe plate before her with unwavering eyes. Not a flicker of emotiondisturbed her features. Doctor Norcot glanced at Gale and smiled, apeculiarly baffled smile. Phyllis' chances now lay in Miss Fields' handsalone. Beneath the table Ricky's hand caught hold of Gale's.
Miss Fields glanced at her watch and rose. "It is almost time for myreturn train. Perhaps we should go."
The girls exchanged glances with the Doctor and followed Miss Fieldsfrom the restaurant. Silently they walked back to the station. The hourthat Phyllis' Aunt proposed to spend in Briarhurst was up. Already hertrain was approaching.
"But aren't you going to see Phyllis?" Ricky demanded finally. She couldbe quiet no longer.
"What have you decided?" Gale asked breathlessly.
Miss Fields looked at Gale and actually smiled. It was a brief smile,and her eyes did not light with friendly warmth. Then she turned to theDoctor.
"I want to thank you, Doctor Norcot, for taking so much interest inPhyllis. I regret that I am not able to do what you suggest."
"You mean----" Gale began.
"You haven't the money?" Ricky put in brusquely. "But you are sendingPhyl to college. You must have money!"
Miss Fields' eyes froze the garrulous Ricky with a single glance.
"My affairs are only my concern. My association with Phyllis concerns apromise I made many years ago. Believe me, I am truly sorry."
"But you must do something!" Gale said.
Phyllis' Aunt stepped onto the train. "It is impossible for me.Goodbye."
"A promise! Sorry!" Ricky stormed when the train had gone and they wereon their way back to the campus. "She couldn't keep a promise or besorry for anything!"
"I wonder what she meant?" Gale murmured. "Doctor Norcot," she saidlater, "are you going to tell Phyllis today?"
The Doctor took a deep breath. "She must know sometime. I'll go and seeher this afternoon."
"I'll go with you," Gale said immediately.
"And I," Ricky added.
The Doctor smiled. "I would wait until tomorrow if I were you."
"She won't want to see us," Ricky agreed upon second thought.
"Wait until tomorrow when she will feel better. Then you must act as ifnothing has happened--you must be perfectly natural. Don't make it anyharder for her," the Doctor cautioned.
"You can count on us," Gale sighed. "When can she come back to the OmegaChi house?"
"In a few days," the Doctor promised. "She may feel better if she iswith the girls."
"Then she won't have to leave college?" Ricky asked fearfully.
"No," the Doctor said, "not unless she wants to. She will be able toattend classes and get about but not without a cane or crutch--ever."
"There isn't any justice!" Ricky said savagely as she went up the GoldenStairs with Gale and entered the latter's room. "Why did such a thinghave to happen to Phyl? Who----" she stopped in amazement and lookedabout the room. "What's happened?"
The room was topsy turvy. Bureau drawers were pulled out and the thingstumbled about. The desks had been thoroughly searched. Even the closetdoor stood open and the girls could see the tumult within.
Gale smiled. "Someone was hunting for that note, I'll wager."
Ricky had been taken into the girls' confidence. Now she staredwide-eyed at Gale. "Did they find it do you suppose?"
"Hardly!" Gale pulled the note from her coat pocket. "Since I knowsomeone else would like to have it, I keep it with me."
"Have you discovered the typewriter that wrote it?"
"No. The girls are still hunting," Gale laughed. "Every time they see atypewriter they run for it."
Ricky and Gale set things to rights and then Ricky departed to findGloria. Gale went downstairs and over to the dormitory house to tellValerie and the others about Phyllis. They might as well all know now.
She was still puzzling over Phyllis' Aunt's words. A promise? To whom?No promise was important enough to stop her aiding Phyllis now!
Miss Fields had been a mystery to the girls in Marchton ever since theyknew her. They had always looked with awe upon the grey silent house andthe woman who lived there. Through Phyllis they had glimpsed the life ofMiss Fields--cold, always calm. Gale reminded herself that she hadreally been prepared for this. She had not thought in the very beginningthat Miss Fields would have the money. Yet she had hoped against hopefor Phyllis' sake. Now there was nothing to be done.
Over and over again the words recurred to Gale. Miss Fields' associationwith Phyllis concerned a promise she had made several years ago. Butwhat sort of a promise? Gale, quite suddenly, had a brilliant idea. Atfirst she had thought she must wait until the Christmas vacation or atleast until she went home for Thanksgiving before she could questionMiss Fields more closely, for question her she was going to! Certainlyshe was not going to consider the matter closed now! Gale was determinedto do everything in her power to help Phyllis. She knew she could counton the other girls to feel the same. Gale was going to get to the bottomof Miss Fields' reserve! She determined to find out just what the womanmeant. But Thanksgiving was several weeks away--Christmas even more so.She would write to David Kimball. He was a boy in Marchton who had beenPhyllis' staunchest ally. He would help. He could set in motion thewheels of their action. While he studied law in Marchton he could aidPhyllis. She would write to David tonight!