n trick" upon the doll-like principal who had
been so kind to her.

"Oh, dear me! I can't go--I can't go!" moaned Nancy Nelson. "It wouldn't
be right. Madame Schakael said I wasn't to go out----"

And then she remembered the bag she had tossed out of the window. She
must have that bag back, if she wasn't going away. If it remained there
over night perhaps Mr. Pease, or Samuel, would find it.

And then the story would all come out, and her position in the school
would be worse!

But Nancy knew that she had no right to leave the building at this
particular time. That was the plain understanding, that recreation hours
should be spent within the Hall, unless Miss Etching invited her to join
a walking party.

The physical instructor was now down on the ice with the girls. Nancy
might have asked one of the other teachers for permission to step out
for just a minute; but that would entail much explanation.

The brush clump into which she had thrown her bag was around the farther
corner of the wing. And just then she heard laughing and talking as the
first group from the river approached the Hall.

Ah! there was Jennie. Nancy identified her jolly laugh and chatter
immediately. She could trust Jennie. Jennie would slip around the house
and bring in the fatal bag secretly, and keep still about it.

So Nancy kept back in the dark hall and let the troop of laughing girls
pass her without saying a word. Jennie came last and Nancy seized her
arm.

"Goodness to gracious and eight hands around!" gasped Jennie. "How you
startled me. Is it you, Nancy?"

"Hush! Yes."

"Well, what's the matter? Whose old cat is dead now?" demanded Jennie,
in an equally low voice.

"I--I threw my bag out of the window, Jennie. Will you get it?"
whispered the excited girl.

"Your bag?"

"Yes, yes!"

"What under the sun did you do it for?"

"I--I can't tell you here," whispered Nancy.

"What have you got _there_?" demanded Jennie, suddenly, pulling at the
bundle under the other girl's arm.

"My--my coat."

"And your hat?"

"Ye--yes."

"Oh, you little chump! You are starting to run away!"

"No, I'm not."

"But you thought of it?"

"Oh, Jennie! I don't see how I _can_ stay here. Cora and Grace know
everything."

"I know it--nasty cats! But I'd face 'em. There's nothing to be ashamed
of," declared Jennie. But she said it a little weakly. She knew that
many of the girls would be just foolish enough to follow the lead of the
Mo