Laura struck an attitude. "Listen, girls!" she cried. "'Curfew
shall not ring to-night!'"

"Now, don't begin reciting old chestnuts like that," sniffed Bess.

"It is an announcement of revolt, not a recitation, I'd have you
know," declared the red-haired girl.

"What do you mean, Laura?" Nan asked, suddenly seeing that Laura
really had some meaning underneath her raillery.

"Hush, children!" crooned the red-haired girl. "What is our
greatest trial--our most implacable enemy--in this fair Garden of
Eves? Tell me!"

"Mrs. Cupp," sighed Nan.

"Nay, nay! She is but the slave of the lamp," responded Laura,
still in flowery fashion. "The _bete noire_ of the girls of Lakeview
Hall is the half-past nine o'clock curfew. And I vow it shall not ring
to-night!"

"Why won't it?" asked Nan, finally grown suspicious.

"Because," hissed Laura, her eyes dancing, "I climbed up into the
tower this forenoon and unhooked and hid the bell-clapper. They
won't find it for one while, now you mark my word!"

"Oh, Laura!" gasped Nan; but then she, too, had to join in the peal
of laughter that the other girls in Room Seven, Corridor Four,