Sallie?"

"Yes, nonsense! Miss Lord says that you refused to learn the lesson that
she assigned, and that you incited the rest of the girls to mutiny. You
are one of the most able pupils in the class, and your failure to finish
the lesson is nothing in the world but stubbornness. If it were Rosalie
Patton now, there might be some sense in it."

"I don't think you understand," said Patty gently.

"It might be well for you to explain," suggested Miss Sallie.

"I must stand by my principles."

"By all means!" Miss Sallie affably agreed. "And what are your
principles?"

"To hold out for sixty lines of Virgil. It isn't because I _want_ to
strike, Miss Sallie. It would be much easier for me to do the eighty
lines, but that wouldn't be fair to Rosalie. The working day should not
be gaged by the capacity of the strongest. Miss Lord will flunk Rosalie
if the rest of us don't take care of her. Upon the solidarity of labor
depends the welfare of the individual worker. It is the fight of the
oppressed against the encroachments of--of--er--organized authority."

"Um--I see!--I really begin to believe that you listened to that
lecture, Patty."

"Of course I listened," Patty nodded, "and I must say that I am awfully
disappointed in Miss Lord. She _told_ us to apply our knowledge of
sociology to the problems of our daily lives, and when we do, she backs
down. But anyway, we intend to maintain the strike, until she is ready
to meet our just demands. It isn't through selfish motives that I am
acting, Miss Sallie. I should a lot rather have something to eat and go
horseback riding. I am fighting for the cause of my suffering sisters."

The ceiling above shook at the impact, as four of her suffering sisters
came down on top of one another, while the walls resounded with their
shrieks and laughter.

Miss Sallie's lip twitched, but she controlled herself and spoke with
serious gravity.

"Very well, Patty, I am glad to know that this unprecedented behavior is
caused by charitable motives. I am sure that when Miss Lord fully
understands the case she will feel gratified. Suppose I act as
intermediary and lay the matter before her? We may be able to arrive at
an--er--compromise."

The half hour that followed dinner was usually devoted to dancing in the
big square hall, but to-night the girls were inclined to stand about in
groups with furtive glances toward the schoolroom. A conference was
going on inside. Miss Lord, the Dowager