"Yes," said Peggy, "but I've heard you say yourself that rules are like piecrust—made to be broken."
"True, my child, but that was before I was made a prefect."
"Well, we're not prefects—yet."
"Then allow me to point out that, if you wish to indulge in rule-breaking you must so manage it that prefects don't get to know of it."
"Perhaps," interrupted Hilary, "you wouldn't mind enlightening us as to the reason for this midnight excursion?"
Silence!
The nine exchanged glances and glowered at the tall figure of their head prefect with sullen determination. Duane waited a few moments, then said, with bland deliberation:
"Of course, if you are going to refuse to make a clean breast of the whole affair the matter is beyond me. I shall simply have to report it to Miss Carslake and let her deal with you."
The juniors started, and exchanged frightened glances. Lines or order marks from prefects were not unusual punishments and could be put up with, but "reported to house mistress" was a far more serious affair, and a rare occurrence.
Duane crossed her arms behind her head and lounged back comfortably in her chair, with the agreeable sensation of being mistress of the situation.