opened the door that led to the
stairs she found herself face to face with Miss Cora, Miss Ada, Miss
Race and several of the junior teachers.

In the background--triumphant smiles upon their faces--lurked Amanda
Peabody and Eliza Dilks.

CHAPTER XXII

A CHALLENGE

The girls stood still, awaiting they did not know what, while Miss Ada
and Miss Cora swept into the room followed by the other teachers, Amanda
and the Shadow. The Misses Dill carried their noses high in the air, and
there was a grim expression around their mouths. But as the girls
glanced from them to Miss Race they saw that the latter looked troubled.

"Amanda and Eliza did it," Laura whispered fiercely in Billie's ear.
"They waited behind and told on us--the sneaks! Oh, how I wish----"

"Silence!" cried Miss Cora Dill, glaring at Laura. "If there is any
talking done in this place to-night, I expect to do it."

She paused a minute, sweeping the girls with an icy glance, then her
eyes rested accusingly upon Billie.

"Three Towers," she said then, "has never before been the scene of such
a disgraceful happening. It is preposterous, unthinkable! I shudder to
think of what will happen when Miss Walters hears the truth.

"And of course," she added, her eyes still fixed upon Billie, "you girls
would never have thought of such a thing if you hadn't been put up to
it. Fortunately, I have been able to learn the name of the--person," the
word held so much of contempt that Billie's face burned, "who started
this disgraceful affair."

By one accord the girls turned accusing eyes upon Amanda and Eliza, but
the latter only tossed their heads and looked defiant.

"Beatrice Bradley"--Miss Cora almost spit out the name--"step forward,
if you please."

Poor Billie wanted desperately to run away somewhere and hide. But she
held her head high, and her eyes met Miss Cora's squarely.

"I want you to tell the truth," said Miss Cora, angered by what she took
to be the insolence of the girl. "Did you or did you not propose this
outrageous affair?"

But this was more than the girls would stand for. Before Billie had a
chance to answer there arose from different parts of the room a score of
voices raised in protest.

"We all did it."

"Billie isn't any more to blame than the rest of us."

"It isn't fair."

"We were all in it together."

Billie had so many defenders that the noise they made completely
drowned Miss Cora's voice and prevented her from sp