ire Miss Walters at once!" and she turned
away down the hall, her hands so tightly clenched that her nails left
little angry red marks where they had bit into the flesh.

The girls watched her go--then turned back into the dormitory with a
sigh. They had won a victory, and yet they were not happy about it.
Except that Billie was free, things were even worse than before.

"Now I don't know what we're going to do," said Vi, gazing drearily out
of the window. The leaden sky had turned still darker and a flurry of
snow had begun to fall.

The gong for classes rang out through the hall and the girls started and
looked at each other questioningly. Several of them began to gather up
their books, but Billie, who had been thinking deeply, suddenly sprang
to her feet.

"Listen, girls," she said, and they looked at her questioningly. "It
seems to me there's only one thing left for us to do. We can't go to
classes, not after what we've just done, and we can't stay around here
till Miss Walters comes. The Pickles will surely starve us to death."

She paused for a moment and they looked at her expectantly. Then she
lowered her voice and spoke quickly.

"Let's go home," she said. "Or at least we can go to the hotel in town
till Miss Walters gets back. What do you say?"

And not one of the girls but what hailed the idea joyfully. It would be
rebellion, of course; and a few days before they would have hesitated.
But not now.

They set about packing in feverish haste, fairly throwing their things
into their suitcases. They were afraid of having their plans spoiled at
the last minute. And in Molata they could get all they wanted to eat;
that is, as long as their money held out.

At last they were ready. Hats and coats on, valises in hand, they
gathered in the hall waiting for Billie to give the word to march.

Eyes were bright, color was high, for they had started on real adventure
and they were beginning to enjoy it.

"Come on," said Billie, raising her hand smartly to the little brown hat
in salute. "For-ward march!"

As they reached the lower hall they were met by Miss Ada Dill and Miss
Cora, Miss Race and several of the other teachers. The latter had feared
trouble when the girls failed to report at classes, and had started out
to see what the matter was.

And now they saw! Before they could even gasp their amazement the girls
swept past them, opened the front door, and ran down the steps to the
drive. There were only