They found the English teacher in a perfect ocean of examination papers, a daub of red ink on one ear.
“Come in, girls, I suppose you want to know if you’ve passed,” she said, smiling the welcome she always felt for this particular trio.
“Why, our papers aren’t corrected are they?”
Betty asked, excitedly. “I thought it would be days before we knew.”
“Oh, please tell us,” begged Polly.
“Not until I hear why you came,” Miss Porter said.
“Oh, no, tell us our marks first, please, please, please,” Lois beseeched.
“Very well, I will. I’m too delighted to keep it to myself another minute,” Miss Porter’s eyes snapped. “You all passed wonderfully well—I can’t tell you your marks, that wouldn’t be fair to the rest, but I am so proud of you all.”
They accepted this unexpected good news with delight. Literature was more important to them than any other subject.
“Oh, great.”