smiling answer, spoken quite softly enough to turn
away wrath.

"You came in direct disobedience to my orders? You may now remain here
for the rest of the evening."

"Oh please, Miss Woodhull, let me go back. They are to have a reel,"
begged her victim.

"No, I have spoken. You will remain in your room."

Without more ado the defrauded one hurled herself into the middle of the
bed, buried her head in the immaculate pillows and burst into a paroxysm
of sobs.

"You have brought this upon yourself. Had you obeyed me there would have
been no occasion for this punishment."

"I was freezing! I just won't stay stived up here while all the girls are
having such fun in the gym. It isn't fair. I haven't done a single thing
but get this coat," was sobbed from the bed, as a vigorous kick sent the
eiderdown cover flying almost in Miss Woodhull's face. A little more
energy would have compassed it.

Miss Woodhull deigned no reply, but turning swept from the room locking
the door behind her. She could deal summarily with rebellious pupils.
Then the search was resumed under her eagle eye, but without results. Not
a creature was to be found, and dismissing her followers she returned to
the gym to get Miss Stetson's report.

"Are _all_ the older pupils present?" she asked.

"They are," replied Miss Stetson somewhat icily.

"Excepting Beverly Ashby, of course."

"Beverly Ashby is here. She is standing in the group near the table,"
corrected Miss Stetson with some satisfaction.

"Impossible. I have just this moment locked her in her room for
disobedience and insolence. You are mistaken."

"Hardly, as you may convince yourself by merely looking."

Miss Woodhull did look and for a moment felt as though caught in the
spell of that mystic night. Beverly Ashby stood laughing and talking with
Sally Conant, Aileen and Mrs. Bonnell, as merry a little Tweedle-dum as
one could picture. Miss Woodhull caught her eye and motioned her to
approach.

"Ye gods and little fishes," whispered Beverly to Sally as she left the
group and went toward Miss Woodhull. That lady's expression was most
forbidding.

"Why are you here?" she demanded icily.

Beverly looked at her innocently as she answered: "I don't think I quite
understand you, Miss Woodhull."

"Not understand me? Is your intellect impaired? Did I not order you to
remain in your room for the remainder of this evening?"

"No, Miss Woodhull."

Miss Woodhull turned crimson. Such b