But the girls who had remained at the Hall over the holidays were
fairly wild. At least, Mrs. Cupp said so, and Mrs. Cupp, Doctor
Beulah Prescott's housekeeper, ought to know for she had had
complete charge of the crowd during the intermission of studies.

"And, believe me," sighed Laura Polk, "we've led the dear some
dance."

Mrs. Cupp looked very stern now as she suddenly appeared from her
office at the end of the big hall. She scarcely responded to the
greetings of the girls who had returned--not even to Nan's--but
asked in a most forbidding tone:

"Who is there new? Girls who have for the first time arrived, come
into my office at once. There is time for the usual formalities
before supper."

"Oh, my dear," murmured Bess Harley wickedly, and loud enough for
the girl in brown to hear her, "she is in a dreadful temper. She
certainly will put these poor sawneys through the wringer tonight."

Rhoda Hammond evidently took this "with a grain of salt." She
asked, before going to the office:

"What sort of instrument of torture is the 'wringer,' please?"

"I am speaking in metaphor," explained Bess. "But you wait! She
will wring tears from your eyes before she gets through with you.
As the little girls say, you can see her 'mad is up.'"