t last by the breathless arrival of their late
guest. She hailed them with an air of the bearer of important news,
and as soon as they were ensconced in their corner with the cocoa
safely bestowed on a stool at Patricia's right hand, she opened her
heart.

"Awful row in the Committee room," she announced gleefully. "Good old
Greenie marched right in to the grave and reverend seniors while they
were in session just now, and she gave them ballyhoo. _She_ called it
a remonstrance in the cause of justice, but, my word, it was ripping!"

"What was it all about?" asked Patricia, much diverted by the picture
of the mournful monitor facing the dreaded Board. "What did she say?"

Griffin chuckled. "You see, I was in the ante-room, cataloguing the
prints--you know I got that job last week. Well, the Board was droning
on in the big room in their usual uninteresting fashion and I was deep
in admiration of a Rembrandt etching--that one with the hat and the
open window behind him--when Green sails past me, head up and majesty
writ large on her bulging brow. She always does put on lugs when she
reports to the Committee, so I didn't sit up and take notice right
away. But in a minute or two I came to life, I can tell you! She was
rolling off the sentences about 'injustice to a high-minded student'
and 'unnecessary humiliation' and 'reparation to one who was an
ornament to any school,' and a lot of other junk like that. I tell
you, I could have hugged the old girl! The Board just sat still, like
school-boys caught stealing jam, and she went on, getting more flowery
all the time."

"But what--" began Patricia again.

Griffin waved her to silence. "All of a sudden she seemed to realize
that she was giving them a drubbing instead of a gentle rebuke. She
hauled in her sails and stood winking at them behind her huge
spectacles, while they all sat staring at her. It was a picture, I can
tell you. Then dear old Farrer cleared his throat in that nervous way
he has, and he bowed to Bottle Green as though she were the finest
ever. 'We have heard with surprise and I am sure with regret,' he
says, 'Miss Green's account of this matter. I think we will all agree
that an investigation should be undertaken, and if there has been
injustice done, such reparation as is possible shall be made.' Then
they came and closed the door and I lit out for here. You've got a
fine champion, Kendall Major, and we'll all see you through if it com