Cicely's rat was of course a great joke in the school, and a subject of teasing for several days afterwards.
"You'll imagine your dressing-gown is a tiger next," said Effie Hargreaves.
"Some people scream at nothing. I'd have been sure about it first, before making such a fuss," said Beryl Austen.
"She thought it was a wily rat, and watched to see it move,
She looked again, and saw that it was nothing but a glove!"
improvised Nora Proctor, who was fond of Alice, and had rather a taste for parody.
"It was such a disappointment to us, when we were waiting to hear the scuffle," said Marjorie Butler.
"We shan't believe in your scares next time," said Effie.
"It's all very well, but I'm sure you'd have been just as frightened yourselves," retorted Cicely. "You've no need to make so much fun of me."
"It's too bad. I vote we pay them out, and have the laugh on our side," sympathized Lindsay, leading her friend away. "I've thought of such a capital idea. Come to the summer-house and we'll talk it over."
As the result of Lindsay's cogitations, the two girls went boldly to Mrs. Wilson, and begged an old cardboard box.