"I beg to propose yourself," piped Aubrey.
"And I beg to second," said Nesta.
Iva settled herself and looked somewhat embarrassed, as if not knowing quite how to begin. She fidgeted for a moment with her pencil, and cleared her throat.
"We're all here," she said at last, "except Fay and Beata, who couldn't stay. What we've met for is to ask Mavis and Merle to explain how it was they got to know some of the examination questions beforehand. It seems to us queer, to say the least of it!"
The Ramsays, overwhelmed with amazement at such a palpable insinuation, turned wrathfully red.
"Why, we've told you! Clive guessed!" gasped Merle.
"Bunkum!"
"How could he?"
"Very convenient guessing, I'm sure!"
"It's no use telling us such utter fibs!"