Mrs. Marvin listened to all that Miss Fenler had to say about the feast,
the two who had planned it, and the other two who beyond a doubt had
been invited guests.

"And _I_ should send them home, and at the same time mail a tart letter
to their parents telling them that their room was better than their
company."

Mrs. Marvin looked up at the thin, harsh face of her assistant.

"Mercy is sometimes as valuable in a case like this, as extreme
severity," she said.

"They have broken a well-known rule here, and must be dealt with
accordingly. They must be made clearly to understand that a repetition
would not be overlooked."

"I am only an assistant," Miss Fenler said, "but I have my opinions,
and I can't help thinking that you are too gentle with them."

"They have been mischievous, surely, but had their mischief been such as
would harm, or annoy their classmates, I should have been more severe.

"You may send them to me. I will see them before the school opens for
the morning session."

"There is another pupil that I must speak of, and that is the Mayo girl.
It has been her habit to keep apart from the other girls. She seems to
prefer to spend much of her leisure time not only indoors, but in her