were out, when they heard Miss Fenler pass their door, then,--why did
she return and pass the door a second time?

Was it imagination, or did she pause before going on?

Their hearts beat faster, and Valerie laid her hand over hers, she
afterward said, to hush it so that the dreaded Miss Fenler might not
hear it.

"Has she gone?" whispered Betty, to which Valerie, who was nearest the
door, replied with a low, "Sh--!"

Farther up the corridor two others listened. Not a sound was heard in
the hall, and Betty Chase cautiously opened the door a few inches. A
board in the floor creaked, and she shut the door so quickly that she
forgot to be careful, and one might have heard it the length of the
hall.

"Oo-oo!" whispered Valerie. "You let me manage that door, please, the
next time it's opened."

"When'll the next time be?" whispered Betty with a chuckle.

"Now!" whispered Valerie, and stepping out into the hall, they carefully
closed the door, then ran softly along to Vera's door, and tapped upon
the panel with a hat-pin for a knocker. The door opened and they were
only too glad to have it close behind them. Yet a bit longer they
waited before lighting up, and while they waited, they sat upon the bed
and talked in whispers.