follow the teacher, she
obediently saluted the physician and, glancing up into his face,
saw--was it possible that he winked?

Though she felt as she were going to be tried for her life, this sight
so surprised her, that she giggled hysterically and thus irreverently
followed the haughty instructress out of the room. So doing, she added
one more to the list of misdemeanors that lady had already placed
against her account.

CHAPTER III

PEERS AND COMMONS

Along the hall down which Dorothy followed the Lady Principal were
many doors opening into small class rooms. Each class was under its
especial teacher, its number being limited to ten students. It was the
policy of the school that by this division better instruction could be
given each pupil, and Dorothy wondered to which of these groups--if
any--she would be assigned. Another hall and other class rooms joined
the first and longer one, at a right angle, and here Miss Muriel
paused, directing:

"Proceed down this corridor till you reach the parlor at its end.
There you will find Miss Hexam awaiting you. She will test your
scholarship and report to me. Do not fail to answer her questions
promptly and distinctly. I observe that you do not enunciate well. You
slur some of your words and clip the endings from your participles. To
say 'hopin'' or 'runnin'' is execrable. Also, there is no such word as
'daown' or 'araoun'.'"

Dorothy's temper rose. She had done nothing right, it seemed, since
she had arrived at this "school for criticism," as she termed it, and
now said pertly:

"I reckon that's the Southern way of talking. I noticed that the
Bishop didn't bother about his 'gs' and he had the same twang that all
do down home. He must have lived there a right smart time when he was
little."

"Many things are permissible in a cultured old gentleman which are
not in an ignorant and forward girl. You came here for your own
improvement. I shall see that you attain it; or, if you fail in this
after a reasonable trial, you cannot be retained. That rule is plainly
stated in our circular. I will bid you good morning until I send for
you."

Poor Dorothy fairly withered under this sternness that she felt was
unjust, but she felt, also, that she had been impertinent, and running
after Miss Muriel, as she moved away, she caught the lady's sleeve,
imploring:

"Please don't think I'm all bad, Miss Tross-Kingdon! I've been
heedless and saucy, but I didn't mean it--not