grimly scanning its contents
from beginning to end. If there was anything under the sun the madame
abominated it was love-letters.

It was an established fact that no tender _billets-doux_ found their
way from the academy; the argus-eyed madame was too watchful for
that.

With a lowering brow, she gave the bell-rope a hasty pull.

"Jenkins," she said to the servant answering her summons, "send Miss
Brooks to me here at once!"

"Poor little thing!" cried the sympathetic Jenkins to herself. "I
wonder what in the world is amiss now? There's fire in the madame's
eye. I hope she don't intend to scold poor little Daisy Brooks."
Jenkins had taken a violent fancy to the sweet-faced, golden-haired,
timid young stranger.

"It must be something terrible, I'm sure!" cried Sara, when she heard
the madame had sent for Daisy; while poor Daisy's hand trembled
so--she could scarcely tell why--that she could hardly bind up the
golden curls that fell down to her waist in a wavy, shining sheen.

Daisy never once dreamed her letter was the cause of her unexpected
summons, until she entered Mme. Whitney's presence and saw it
opened--yes, opened--her own sacred, loving letter to Rex--in her
hand.

Daisy was impulsive, and her first thought was to grasp her precious
letter and flee to her own room. How dared the madame open the
precious letter she had intended only for Rex's eyes!

"Miss Brooks," began madame, impressively, "I suppose I am right in
believing this epistle belongs to you?"

A great lump rose in Daisy's throat.

"Yes, madame," answered Daisy, raising her dark-blue eyes pleadingly
to the stern face before her.

"And may I ask by what right you dared violate the rules and
regulations of this establishment by sending a sealed letter to--a
man? Your guardian strictly informed me you had no correspondents
whatever, and I find this is a--I blush to confess it--actually a
love-letter. What have you to say in reference to your folly, Miss
Brooks?"

"I'm sure I don't know," sobbed Daisy.

"You don't know?" repeated madame, scornfully. "Not a very satisfactory
explanation. Well, Miss Brooks, I have fully determined what steps I
shall take in the matter. I shall read this letter this morning before
the whole school; it will afford me an excellent opportunity to point
out the horrible depths to which young girls are plunged by allowing
their minds to wander from their books to such thoughts as are here
expressed. What do y