Peggy

of of this, M

y sure of it,

e proof? Of course, before taking any such serious step as you propos

sad condition. "They were nailed-nailed with tenpenny nails, to the floor of my closet; they are totally ruined. Look-I ask you all, ladies, to look at my hand-glass!" She held up the glass; and at the sight Emily Cortlandt had one of those violent fits of coughing that often trouble

nning mouth, and twinkling, malicious eyes; it had an undoubted resemblance to Miss Pugsley. As she held it up

crupulous in such matters,-and took up the glass to see that my pug was straight behind. I looked-and saw th

sley," said Miss Russell, gravel

vindictively. "I tell you that there is only one girl in the s

a moment

r room at any time, Miss Pug

no difference. Grace had done the thin

l to lock your door w

e to Grace Wolfe. The girl is cut out for a malefactor. I prophesy that

victim of some very malicious practical jokes, Miss Pugsley. I shall look into the matter thoroughly, and shall do my b

Grace Wolfe?" said Miss Pu

she may have done so. You found the bandbox outside your door, where Bridget admits she left it several days before. You left your door unlocked on a rainy half-holiday, when sixty or more girls were constantly p

he window as she spoke? But now sh

ll be brought out of that untamed spirit. She has never known a mother, remember. The name of the Scapegoat, which she has given herself, may, I sometimes think, reflect

k so!" snorted

girls in the school. I should like to know how Grace has been doing this

and her industry. Thus testified every teacher, except the small brown mouse who taught drawing in Pentland School. This mouse, Miss Mink by name, had crept away silently, and left the r

s had given their testimony; then M

a smile of sweetened vinegar. "It would be a great pity, wouldn't it,

aid the Princ

t on. "Are you aware that room No. 18, in corridor A, the room formerly occupied by Miss Lightwo

l looked at

achers. "I had meant to speak to you before abo

nd I have no authority there; but as long as one is in the school, of course one must consider t

achers who had been long in the school were gl

estigating it, and think I shall need no help; though I thank you," it was to Miss Ivors that she spoke, "

iss Russell stepped to the win

d in the distance; a bird chirpe

"If you are there, I wish you wou

sigh. On leaving the room she paused a moment to look at the photograph of a

"My first pupil! I'll keep your

ipal called her? Who can tell? It is certain that

ing of the term, but one had been destroyed in an explosion), Miss Carey took it away and washed it, while Colney went around looking scared and miserable in a queer flannel gown of a pinkish shade. Report said it had once been brown, but that the colour had been changed by the fumes of something or other, no one knew what. Sometimes she had buttons on frock and apron, more often not. Periodically, Miss Carey or the Owls descended upon her, and sewed on her buttons and mended her up generally; and she was very grateful, and said how nice it was to have buttons. But she soon pulled them off again, because she never had time to do anything but tear her clothes off when she went to bed, and drag them on again when she got up. When a button flew off, she pinned the place over, if a pin was in sight; if not, she went without; it made no difference to her, and she was not conscious of it in five minutes. Miss Russell, and most of the teachers, were very tender with Colney. She was poor, and meant to work her way through college; even now she paid part of her schooling by stuffing birds and setting up skeletons for one of the college professors. If she did no

is I. How do we go to work to

ted, but repl

part hydrogen w

y, with ominous calm. "And

and explodes wi

ctly what did ha

preserved in spirits. In one corner stood part of a human skeleton. It stood on one leg, with a jaunty air, having indeed but one leg to stand on; both arms were wanting, but the skull, which was a very fine one, made up for much. On account of this fragmentary skeleton, few of the younger girls ever dared to enter Bedlam, and some of them would run past the door with face averted, and beating heart, fearing lest the

ll-boxes, blowpipes and crucibles. One could not move without upsetting so

es. Last year the sophomores had been freshmen, and must not know anything about the Gang, save in wondering envious whispers and surmises. Next year the juniors would be seniors, and t

ht, the leader among the sophomores; here were six or eight girls, in fact, chosen from the two classes for the same characteristics, lawle

poor Colney, who looked up in dismay from her mouse as the silent

our rubbish, Colney, and burn it, with you on top, like the Ph?nix. I am sure

y Hatch. "Don't sit down on that frog, he isn'

nd your company!" replied Grac

r with her face to the wall; then moved the lam

dear, and we'll wake you up when supper

Dutch cheese, a tin of crackers, a bottle of coffee, a bottle of olives, and a box of sardines. Grace herself told in high glee how she had met one of the teachers in the corridor, and

his smell. She did smell it, however, and said, so cheerfully, poor dear, that Miss Carey was evidently going to give us a surprise to-morrow, for she smelt lobster. It

mean, Goat?"

t argues a poverty of intellect, as well as a small vocabula

unny you are!" g

ved. "But I pray you fall to! Have some sala

hey could find a few inches of spare room, and were dispensing the viands with reckless liberality. "I say! I wish we h

race Wolfe,

hat's the m

am leader of this Gang," said Grace. "Take

wn way, Goat. I'd just as lief call it dan

eeding her Puggy in the rhetoric chai

your-" began Grace; but she checked

e doesn't know we are here, I believe. Look at her hair, girls! It gets mo

e Scapegoat. "Colney is our hostess, I beg to rem

ngs, and went over to the corner where Colney Hatch

ey; here's

oking up for a moment. "But I can't, yo

commanded the Scapegoa

glance over her shoulder at the others. Grace's gaiety was fitful to-night, certainly. When she first came in she had been t

the very height of glee, breaking into gusts of giggling

Hurrah! Through Br

ay anything. She wouldn't d

e isn't afraid of anything, Freshy isn't.

pegoat, coming back with the empty

reen. "We're going for some to-morrow n

en out for more than a week, and the moon will be nearly

aid Grace

, what do

's wr

has ha

d. Boots are no long

h, Grace Wolfe!

editions-through Broadway. Is that suffic

you to-night, Goat?" she said. "We don't seem to succeed in satisfying you. Aren't we good enough

es. "I have not been personal. I merely say, while I lead th

lead this Gang, if you play the part o

is. "Listen to the Goat!" said one and another. "

eized her o

a second! I resign. My last act is to brea

nt (but indeed she had finished the mouse), turned round to see what was wrong. For a moment she saw the two leaders, Grace and Blanche, facing each other, the one pale and

, whispering, stumbling over the remains of their fea