"She said that she showed me it simply to assure me that it was not through idleness she declined to enter the Latin competition. I was naturally anxious to know what motives influenced her in this course, but she would give me no satisfaction on that point. She merely said she did not intend to send it, that was all.
"I reasoned with her," continued the Principal, "and used every argument I could think of to induce her to change her mind, and finally represented to her that it was her duty to consider the interests of the school as well as her own feelings. She became quite distressed at this, and assured me she had made every effort in her power to make a creditable appearance, but she could not alter her determination in this case.
"I saw that further remonstrance would only pain her and could not effect my purpose, so I said no more, but allowed her to have her way."
Mona looked almost incredulous for a moment, and then without a word went on with her music. She thought she had discovered Minnie's motive.
When she entered the schoolroom again, she secured a seat beside Mabel, and launched at once into the subject uppermost in her mind.
"Well, Mabel," she began, "what do you think of the result of the examination?"
"I don't know that I have thought much about it at all but I do not see how the result could have been different."
"Ah, then, I was right in supposing you to be aware of Minnie's intention not to send that Latin translation?"
"Yes, I did know of it," replied Mabel.
"And why then, in the name of justice, did you not prevent her carrying out that intention?" demanded Mona, impatiently, almost forgetting her object. "Surely you might have used your well-known influence better!"