table, covered with books and papers;
and finally her glance went back to the head mistress, whose eyes were
still fixed on her with that steady, embarrassing gaze.

"Was it to make everybody look alike?" she replied at last, almost as
if the words were dragged from her lips.

"Exactly! Then, to return to my original question, why, knowing this
fact, did you presume to break the rule?"

Honor was again silent. Somehow her intended bravery seemed to desert
her.

"I met your father, Major Fitzgerald, yesterday," continued Miss
Cavendish. "I understand that he held a command in the Royal Munster
Fusiliers, and did splendid service in the Boer War. Kindly tell me
what explanation he would have given to his general if he had appeared
at church parade minus his uniform."

"Oh, but he wouldn't have done that!" exclaimed Honor in horror.

"Why not?"

"Why! because he is a soldier. How could he? The uniform is part of the
service."

"And what is the first duty of a soldier?"

"To obey orders," answered Honor, with a spark of apprehension in her
eyes.

"You are right. Now, what would happen to a regiment if each
individual, instead of obeying his superior officer, were to follow his
own inclinations?"

"It would go to pieces."

"And what occurs when a soldier commits any breach of regulations?"

"He is court-martialled and punished."

"Is that just?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

"Oh, because--because--it's the Army, and they must! There couldn't be
any discipline without."

"Exactly! You are an officer's daughter, and you evidently appreciate
the vast importance of good discipline. Now, we are a little army here.
Every girl, as a member of this community, is bound to preserve its
rules, which have been wisely framed, and deserve to be faithfully
kept. You have been guilty of a very grave breach of our regulations,
and by your own showing you merit punishment. Do you consider this to
be just?"

"Yes," returned Honor, meeting the head mistress's look firmly.

"We have an esprit de corps at the College," continued Miss Cavendish,
"which makes each girl anxious to keep up the credit and prestige of
the school. When you have been here a short time, and have learnt the
tone of the place, I believe and trust that you will be truly ashamed
of the remembrance of your appearance in chapel this morning. It is for
this reason I shall not punish you, though you have yourself
acknowledged that punishment would be only an