summons came.

"Miss Montfort, Miss Russell would like to see you in the study."

Peggy steadied herself for the encounter, and went quietly. If only she
could be met with a cold look, it would be easier, somehow--but no! the
Principal's gray eyes were as kind as ever, her smile as gravely sweet,
as she said, pleasantly, "Good morning, Miss Montfort. Good afternoon, I
should say; I forgot how late it was. Sit down for a moment, will you? I
want to ask you about something."

Peggy did not want to sit down. She wanted to stand still and go through
with it, and then get away to her own room. But there was no
disregarding the request, so she sat down on the edge of a chair and set
her teeth.

"I hardly know where to begin!" said Miss Russell. "I am going to take
you into my confidence--Peggy."

Peggy shivered a little, but said nothing, only set her teeth harder.

"There has been a good deal of trouble," Miss Russell went on, "a good
deal of trouble in former years with the room which you now occupy. The
girl who occupied it was--was wild and undisciplined, and took pleasure
in breaking bounds, and in inducing others to do so. She--there were a
number of girls who used to go out without leave, by way of the
fire-escape outside the window."

She paused a moment, and looked at Peggy, but Peggy made no sign.

"That girl--left the school last year, not to return; but there are
several still here who used to share in those wild pranks (undertaken in
mere thoughtlessness, I am glad to think, and not with any evil intent),
and I have been afraid--in fact, it has come to my ears, that the room
was again being used for the same purpose."

She paused again; but still Peggy was silent. What could she say?
Besides, no question had been asked her--yet!

The question came. "You are silent, Peggy. Do you know anything about
this matter?"

"Yes, Miss Russell!" said Peggy, faintly.

"I feel," said the Principal, in a tone of regret, "that I have been to
blame in not warning you of this beforehand, and putting you on your
guard. I had hoped that when Bil--when the young lady of whom I spoke
was gone, the whole thing would die out; it is a distressing thing to
warn a pupil against her schoolmates. Still, I feel that in this case I
ought to have done so. I place entire confidence in you, Peggy. I am
sure that you would not yourself break the rules of the school; but you
may have been put to inconvenience and distress by the lawl