tearing the big girl's ear with her teeth, and with her hands
clawing the big girl's face.

To this moment Fouchette had not uttered a word. Then she let flow a
torrent of language such as had never before been heard within the
sacred precincts of Le Bon Pasteur. She could no more be stopped than
an avalanche.

The girls of the dormitory closed their ears in their fright at this
flood of profanity.

"Stop! stop! stop!" cried the matron, now overcome with horror. "You
belong in the Reformatory! You shall go to the Reformatory! You shall
have the bath and the paddle, you vile vixen!"

And Fouchette's vocabulary having been exhausted for the time being,
she ceased.

Meanwhile, a light was brought, and attendants came running in from
the other parts of the building.

Notwithstanding the confused explanation, and the fact that the
aggressor's bed was at some distance from the spot where the two were
discovered, which sustained the charge of Fouchette that the latter
had been first attacked, the terrible condition of the big girl was
such that Fouchette was sent to a cell and held in close confinement
till the next evening.

She was then taken to Sister Angelique, where she was examined as to
her version of the occurrence. The victim of her nails and teeth also
had a hearing.

Between the two, and considering all the circumstances, Sister
Angelique came to the proper conclusion, and so reported the case to
the Superieure.

The latter had Fouchette brought before her. She was a very flabby and
masculine woman, of great brains and keen penetration, and invariably
had an oleaginous Jesuit priest at her elbow on important occasions to
strengthen her religious standing and to give her decisions the force
and effect of ecclesiastical law.

"Father Sebastien," said the Superieure, "this is a grievous case.
What are we to do with these girls that fight like tigers,--that set
the whole blessed institution of Le Bon Pasteur by the ears?"

The Jesuit rubbed his hands, eying the slender figure before them
curiously.

"A sad case,--a very sad case," he muttered; "and yet----"

"Mademoiselle Fouchette has been of good service to us, and----"

"And has invited this attack by her friendliness for the institution.
No doubt,--no doubt at all," said the priest.

"But it is necessary to punish somebody," persisted the Superieure,
"else we shall lose control of these hot-heads."

"How about the other one? Mademoiselle----"