"Did you obtain permission to leave the school premises? That is a
rule, you know."

"Yes, Miss March," said Rhoda, "I obtained permission."

"From whom, Rhoda?" asked the instructor, rather puzzled.

"I telegraphed yesterday to my father. He sent a night letter to
Dr. Prescott, and she got it this morning. She gave it to me. Here
it is," said the Western girl, taking the crumpled message from her
handbag and handing it to the teacher.

Miss March looked amazed when she had read the long message. "Dr.
Prescott, then, granted you this privilege which he asks here?"

"Yes, Miss March," said Rhoda coldly, and Miss March went back to
her seat.

"Did you ever?" gasped Bess to Nan and Laura. "Why, it must have
cost five dollars or more to telegraph back and forth."

"Humph! she certainly doesn't know the value of money," commented
Laura. "She is more recklessly extravagant than Linda."

The rest of the girls paid no further attention to Rhoda. They were
having too good a time among themselves. As there were few other
passengers on that car to Adminster, the Lakeview Hall pupils came
very near to taking charge of it. The conductor was good-natured,
and the girls' fun was kept in bounds by Miss March.