y
should she be afraid to answer questions? But, really--and then the
heads would draw close together, and the voices drop to a whisper--
really she looked so wretched and ashamed, that one began to wonder if
she could be innocent after all! A whole week, and she had not once
been in mischief. Didn't that look as if something was on her mind?
While as for funny stories, she was as dull as Clara herself; and it was
impossible to say anything more scathing than that!

After Margaret's failure no more personal efforts had been made to
induce Pixie to confess; but at the end of a week the anticipated blow
fell, for Miss Phipps addressed the assembled school and announced her
intention of confiscating holidays until the end of the term.

"I am sorry to punish the innocent with the guilty," she said, "but I
hope that the consciousness that she is depriving her companions of
their enjoyment may have more influence with the culprit, whoever she
may be, than any words of mine. I don't think it is right to deprive
your teachers of their much-needed rest, so on Wednesdays and Saturdays
you will have extra preparation during the hours which would otherwise
have been your own. Of course no invitations can be accepted. I have
written to your brother, Pixie, to say that you will not be able to go
out with him on Saturday, as arranged."

Pixie's cry of dismay was drowned by the general groan, which swelled
ever louder and louder as Miss Phipps left the room. The younger girls
looked inclined to cry, one or two stamped on the floor with
irrepressible anger, and there was a very babel of indignation.

"I told you so! What did I say? As if we hadn't enough to do without
slaving six hours more! I know what it will be now--I shall get so worn
out that I shall fail in my examination."

"Preparation! More prep! I call that adding insult to injury. If it
had been a class, I wouldn't have minded half so much. I'm sick and
tired of school. I'll ask my mother if I may leave the day I am
seventeen."

"And I was going out on Wednesday! I had an invitation this morning,
and was going to tell Miss Phipps after tea. I may as well write and
say I can't go, and it would have been so nice too. I should have had
such fun!"

"Jack was going to take me to the s-s-circus! I've never seen a clown
in all me days! I was c-counting the hours!" stammered Pixie tearfully;
and at the sound of her voice, as at a signal, all the girls stop