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Suddenly the girl lost her te about it I know you mean well, probably the only one that does Miss Graves and the others look the other way—always have, froot here and started … well You know nothing, and if you let on that you do, you will vanish like poor Miss Saunders, who suspected … and …” Her voice trailed off

“Suspected what?” Sassy knew That voice in her head began whispering to her, and she knew the answer

“Nothing I like you, Miss Winthrop, but there is nothing you can do about this Look at o when I leave here? There is nothing out there for me when I leave”

“What are you saying? Be clear, Caroline, so that I may help you”

“You can’t help oing to my room now Don’t tell anyone If you do it will cause you trouble”

Sassy put out her hand “The key, Caroline”

“Aw, Miss Winthrop, you don’t knohat you are getting involved in Don’t take this key It won’t do”

Sassy took the key “Here, take the candle,” she said softly, “but you and I, we are not done I will get to the bottom of this, and I will help you!”

“I know you want to, but you can’t,” said Caroline as she left Sassy’s room

Sassy sucked in air and knocked at the headmistress’s office door She was told impatiently, “Come in”

Sassy opened the door, closed it behind her, and went forward as Mistress Sallstone sat back and with narrowed eyes said, “What do you want?”

As an answer, Sassy put the key on her desk “This is the key to the side entrance,” she told her more calmly than she felt

“And the significance of this?” The headmistress was as cool as ever

“Caroline Hughes used it last night to re-enter the school building I heard her andHer face was painted, and she was dressed most inappropriately” Sassy watched Miss Sallstone’s eyes and knew at once that the headmistress knew this—all of it She did not think Caroline was out at a friend’s home