merely did the same as others.
The fact that the Camellia Buds did not share in the dishonesty was set
down to priggishness on their part, Bertha and Mabel often making jokes
at their expense. One day an unpleasant matter happened in the school.
It was the fortnightly examination, and when the Transition took their
places at their desks, with sheets of foolscap and lists of questions,
it was found that the inkwells of each member of the Camellia Buds had
been stuffed up with blotting-paper, so that it was impossible for them
to dip their pens.

Miss Bickford, who did not even know of the existence of the sororities,
and therefore could not perceive the significance of the fact that
certain girls were thus served while others went free, flew into a
towering rage, and accused Peachy, whose reputation as a practical joker
was not altogether undeserved, of having played the shameless "joke."
Peachy, smarting with the injustice of the false charge, forgot herself
and retorted hotly.

"Priscilla Proctor!" thundered Miss Bickford. "I have sometimes excused
high spirits, but I never allow impertinence and insubordination. Leave
the room instantly and go upstairs to the sanatorium. You'll remain
there until you apologize."

A dead hush fell over the class as Peachy, with flaming eyes and chin in
the air, flounced out and slammed the door after her. It was an extreme
measure at the Villa Camellia to banish a girl to the sanatorium, a
public disgrace generally administered only by one of the principals,
and scarcely ever resorted to by a form mistress.

Miss Bickford, with a red spot on each cheek, glared at the row of
faces in front of her.

"Can any one give any information about this business?" she asked, then
as nobody replied she continued, "I'm disgusted with the whole set of
you. I wish to say that I'm not as blind as you seem to think, and I've
noticed many points about your work that are, to say the least,
extremely suspicious. I tell you once and for all _this must stop_! I
won't have cheating, practical jokes, or impertinence in this form. Do
you all thoroughly understand me? Very well then, don't let this kind of
thing ever happen again. Empty those ink-pots out on to that tray, and,
Winnie, fetch the ink-bottle out of the cupboard and refill them. This
senseless proceeding has wasted a large part of your examination time,
but I shall make no excuse for it. Your papers will be marked as if you
had begun at nine