“How about the toothache?” asked Sam, slyly.

“Oh, that’s gone now; the fire scared it away.”

“Where is she?” questioned Tom.

“She is in the office with some of the other teachers.”

“All right, if I’ve got to go, I might as well have it over with.  Come along, Nellie.”

“Oh, Tom, do you really think I ought to go?”

“If you won’t, I won’t.”

“All right, then,” and arm in arm, Tom and Nellie proceeded into the main building.  Nellie showed the way to the office, which was located at the end of a long corridor.

“Oh, so here is the young gentleman!” cried Miss Harrow, as they entered.  She was very pale, but did her best to compose herself.

“You sent for me?” returned Tom, bluntly.

“Yes.  I wish to thank you for what you did for me.  You are a very brave young man.  Were I able to do so, I should be only too pleased to reward you liberally.  But I am only a poor teacher, and——­”

“I don’t want any reward, Miss Harrow.  What I did anybody could have done.”

“Perhaps, but——­” And now the teacher stopped short, for the first time noticing Nellie’s presence.  “What do you want here, Miss Laning?” she demanded, stiffly.

“I came in with Mr. Rover; he wanted me to come,” was the answer.  And as the teacher continued to glare at her, Nellie clung tightly to Tom’s arm.

“I—­ I don’t understand——­” stammered Miss Harrow.  She was evidently much surprised.

“It’s this way, Miss Harrow.” answered Tom, with his usual bluntness.  “Miss Laning and I have been friends for a great many years.  The fact is, we hope—­ that is, I hope”—­ and now Tom looked a bit confused—­ “we’ll be married before a great while.  I have been told about the diamond ring that is missing, and I know all about how you have treated Nellie.  I don’t like it at all.  I think you are doing her a great injustice.”

“Oh!” The teacher paused abruptly and bit her lip.  She glanced from Tom to Nellie and then to the others who were in the office.  “I—­ I have not accused Miss Laning of anything,” she went on, rather lamely.

“Perhaps not in so many words.  But you have acted as if you felt certain she was guilty.  Now, that isn’t fair.  She wouldn’t touch anything that wasn’t her own.  It’s a terrible thing to cast suspicion on any one.  What would you say if I were to intimate you had taken the four-hundred-dollar ring?”

“Sir!” and now the teacher’s face grew red.  “Do you mean to insult me?”

“Not at all.  But I mean to stand up for Miss Laning first, last, and all the time,” replied Tom, earnestly.  “I think it is an outrage to even suspect her.”

For a few seconds there was an intense silence, broken only by a certain nervous movement among the others in the office.  Miss Harrow bit her lip again.

“I—­ I am sorry if I have done Miss Laning an injustice,” she said, slowly.  “But the diamond ring is gone, and if the ring is not recovered, I may be held responsible for it.”