would not be
right. It is to punish her we have to punish many."

"But if I stayed upstairs--" cried Pixie eagerly, and then stopped
short, with crimson cheeks, as if startled by the sound of her own
words. "I mean I am the one they are vexed with; they want to punish me
most. If I stayed upstairs in my own room, or was sent to bed, why
shouldn't the others have their party? It would be an extra punishment
to me to hear them dancing, wouldn't it now?"

Mademoiselle threw up her bands in an expressive silence. In all her
experience of school life never before had she met a girl who pleaded in
such coaxing terms for her own humiliation, and she was at sea as to
what it might mean. Either Pixie was guilty, in which case she was one
of the most arrant little hypocrites that could be imagined, or she was
innocent, and a marvel of sweetness and charity. Which could it be? A
moment before she had felt sure that the former was the case, now she
was equally convinced of the latter. In any case she was gratified by
the idea that she herself should plead for the breaking-up party, and
was ready to promise that she would interview Miss Phipps without delay.

"And ye'll not say that ever I mentioned it," urged Pixie anxiously,
"for maybe that would put her off altogether. Just ask as if it was a
favour to yourself, and if she asks, `What about Pixie?' `Oh, Pixie,'
says you, `never trouble about her! Send her to bed! It will be good
for her health. She can lie still and listen to the music, and amuse
herself thinking of all she has lost.'"

The beaming smile with which this suggestion was offered was too much
for Mademoiselle's composure, and, do what she would, she could not
restrain a peal of laughter.

"You are a ridiculous child, but I will do as you say, and hope for
success. I like parties too, but it will not be half so nice if you are
not there, _petite_! See, I was angry at first, and when I am angry I
say many sharp things, but I am not angry any more. If it had happened
to anyone to break my bottle by mistake, she need no more be frightened
to tell me. I would not be angry now!"

"Wouldn't you?" queried Pixie eagerly, but instantly her face fell, and
she shivered as with dread. "But, oh, Miss Phipps would! She would be
angrier than ever! The girls say so, and it is only a fortnight longer
before the holidays, and then we shall all go home. If it is not found
out before the holidays, it will be a