"Now, my dear Miss Harrow, pray do not agitate yourself too much,"
broke in another of the teachers. "This is all very painful. You had
better drop the matter."

"I am willing to drop it," answered Tom, before Miss Harrow could
speak. "Only I want it understood that Miss Laning is to be treated
with the consideration she deserves. Otherwise I may suggest to her
father that she be taken away from this institution and a suit for
damages be instituted."

"Oh, no! Not that! Not that!" came from Miss Harrow, and now she was
plainly much frightened. "I did not accuse Miss Laning of anything,
and I do not accuse her now. The ring is missing. That is all I can
say about it."

"I think we had better go, Tom," whispered Nellie.

"You may leave, Miss Laning," said one of the other teachers. "We have
had trouble enough for one night."

"Nellie started for the door, and Tom did the same; but before the
youth could leave, Miss Harrow clutched him by the arm.

"Mr. Rover, just a word," she said in a low voice. "You did me a great
service and I shall not forget it. If I have done Miss Laning an
injustice, I am very sorry for it." And having thus spoken, she turned
back and sank down on a couch. Tom and Nellie left and hurried to the
campus, where they were speedily rejoined by Sam and Grace.