"Tell the story to the whole school to-morrow. Rub in the fact that the serenader is a coarse, common, illiterate groom. Mention that the stablemen and other servants all around the block are chuckling over the thing. Rob the episode of every atom of romance. Make it utterly vulgar, and sordid, and ugly, and absurd."
Miss Ryder looked at the Youngest Teacher with something akin to admiration.
"I believe you are right, Miss Carewe. It will be punishment enough. I'll mention no names."
"Oh, no. Everyone will know."
There was a short but dramatic special session the next morning. The principal slew and spared not; and all the guilty squirmed uncomfortably, while the arch offender hid her face in her hands and sobbed miserably over shattered romance and open humiliation.
Even her boon companions tittered and grinned derisively at her as she fled to her room when the conference ended.
But the Youngest Teacher followed, and her eyes were very kind.
CHAPTER III
THE ELOPEMENT OF EVANGELINE MARIE