"Janet, will you please stand up and speak for yourself?" Miss Baxter peered a little over the desk, and her face set in hard, uncompromising lines.
A month had passed since the last chapter, and Janet had found a very particular place in the school for herself. Once on the right road it had been only a matter of a few days before the girls accepted her, and only a matter of weeks before she was one of the leading members of her class. Her quiet humor and downright frankness made her a welcome addition to the school, as Sally had prophesied.
She and Phyllis had discovered how easy it was to pass for each other, and further to confuse people they began to dress alike. Miss Gwynne, the history teacher, had made a mistake in their identity in class one day and had laughed about it later to the rest of the teachers. Only Miss Baxter refused to find the story amusing. She had called it impertinence, and then and there made up her mind that the same trick should never be played on her.
This morning her near-sightedness had confused her, but she was certain that they were trying to trick her and she would have none of it.
"But I am Janet, and I am standing up." Janet had caught some of Daphne's drawl and used it when she remembered to.
Miss Baxter smiled coldly but triumphantly.
"Very well, if you persist in being childish, then I will ask Phyllis to stand also."
Phyllis rose, and the girls waited breathlessly.
"Come to my desk, please," Miss Baxter continued.
They obeyed her, Phyllis slipping her watch with its tell-tale initials into her pocket as she walked beside Janet to the front of the room and up to the desk that was raised on a small platform.