He lost his temper, and struck her on the head with his clenched fist.
“She’ll arouse the whole neighbourhood,” he murmured. “There never was such a dragon.”
He caught sight of a cake of glycerine soap on the washstand.
He thrust this into her mouth, then tied her hands behind her with a handkerchief.
His impression was that after this she fainted, but he did not stop to ascertain. Taking the key out of the lock of her door, he locked her in from the outside.
A chorus of screams now proceeded from the young ladies’ dormitory.
Several by this time had rushed out into the passage in their nightdresses, with naked feet, on the cold floor of the landing.
“Back—back into your rooms, girls!” cried Peace, in an authoritative tone. “You’ve no occasion to be alarmed. No harm is intended.”
“But Miss Chickleberry. What of her?” cried one of the pupils.
“She’s all right, quite right,” answered Peace, flying down the stairs with headlong speed.