of course I must take cognizance of it. And I feel sure that if
your roommate was the person on the ice this morning, she will report
the fact to me herself----"

She pushed the office door wide open. Nancy had listened to this
conversation perforce. There had been no escape for her.

"Ah! As I expected," said the doll-like little woman, smiling calmly at
Nancy. "You see how mistaken one may be, Cora? Nancy is here ahead of
us."

Cora Rathmore shrank back from the door with a very red face. Nancy's
eyes flashed as she looked at her ill-natured roommate. She realized
well enough that Cora had deliberately--and without sufficient evidence
herself--tried to get her into trouble with the principal.

Cora was not easily embarrassed, however. In a moment she shot the other
girl a scornful glance and, without a word to Madame Schakael, walked
out of the office. It really did seem as though it was Nancy who had
done the wrong, instead of her roommate.

"You are here to see me, Miss Nelson?" asked the Madame, briskly,
ignoring the other girl and her report.

"Yes, Madame."

"Because of what I said at prayers?"

"Yes, Madame."

"You are a new girl. Did you not know of the rule that all girls must
keep off the river until it is pronounced safe by Mr. Pease?"

"I did not know of the rule. And I did not think that I was doing wrong
when I went on the ice this morning," returned Nancy, quietly.

"I believe you, Miss Nelson. You are excused. Don't do it again. I can't
afford to have any of my girls drowned--especially one who stands as
well as you do in the weekly reports," and the little woman patted her
on her cheek and smiled.

"You may go skating this afternoon, if you wish, and if you are perfect
in your recitations, as I suppose you will be," continued Madame
Schakael. "Wait, my dear! Here are two letters for you. They are both
from Mr. Henry Gordon's office, and I presume they are from him. I make
it a rule never to open letters from the parents or guardians of my
girls; other letters, you understand, must be scrutinized unless the
correspondence has already been arranged for."

She passed the wondering Nancy two businesslike looking envelopes with
the card printed in the corner of "Ambrose, Necker & Boles."

"Thank you, Madame," said the girl, and hurried away to her first class
with the letters fairly burning a hole in her pocket.

There would be no opportunity before the first intermission--at 10:30
o'clo