n she had never occupied
since she entered the school. She was very irate in consequence.

"I detest Miss Webb!" she declared. "It was a disgustingly mean way of
her to take revenge on us. How could she tell I had altered the clock?"

"Any idiot could have guessed that!" returned Dora. "It was perfectly
simple to put two and two together; we all knew."

"Well, I think it was nasty of her, all the same, and I mean to pay her
out."

"If you can."

"Oh, I'll manage it somehow!"

"Better not boast too soon."

"All right! Just wait and see!"

It was perfectly unreasonable of Aldred to feel aggrieved because Miss
Webb had asserted her authority; but she chose to consider that she had
been unfairly treated, and that she was justified in nursing her wrath.
She cast about for some means of turning the tables and annoying the
mistress, but it was rather difficult to hit upon anything safe; she had
no wish to get herself into serious trouble, and knew that any open
defiance would be reported at head-quarters.

"It must be something she can't fix specially upon me," reflected
Aldred; "something that any of us might have done. The whole class
dislikes her, so I shall really be acting champion for the rest; only,
I think I won't tell them anything about it beforehand; it shall come as
a surprise."

After serious cogitation, she decided to chalk Miss Webb's chair, so
that her black dress should show a white impression of the cane seat and
back.

"She won't know," thought the girl, "and of course we shall none of us
tell her, and she'll be going about the school looking such a guy!
She'll wonder why everybody is smiling."

By nine o'clock next morning Aldred had her unpleasant surprise already
prepared. She had managed to slip into the classroom before breakfast,
and to chalk the chair thoroughly; and she now sat in her place,
laughing in anticipation. Miss Webb was punctual. She entered in her
usual rather flurried, undignified manner, and was about to close the
door after her, when she suddenly opened it wide again to admit--Miss
Drummond and Mabel! This was a totally unlooked-for event. Aldred had
not known that Mabel was returning to class that day, as it had been
reported that she was to remain in hospital for the rest of the week;
and she certainly did not expect the head mistress. Mabel walked quietly
to her own desk, and Miss Drummond (alas for Aldred!) sank straight down
on the chair that Miss Webb at once poli