"This," they would say, "this is what you do with your education!"
In reality, it was only a moment until Miss Ellingwood spoke. Her eyes flashed; it seemed to Sarah that they would burn through her.
"Come to my room in half an hour. I don't want to hear anything from you now." Then she turned to the girls laughing behind her, and her eyes flashed still more brightly. Perhaps it was for their illumination that the flash existed. "You have been here for a year, and you know the rules of the school. Dr. Ellis will hold you responsible for any misconduct in this room, rather than a newcomer."
Ellen and Mabel looked at each other guiltily as Miss Ellingwood's door closed behind her. Then they went to their own room.
Sarah was not to be seen, and their uneasiness turned to fright. There was no exit save through the window, and they were on the third floor. It could not be possible that she was as badly frightened as that!
"Sarah!" cried Mabel sharply.
Sarah appeared from the closet. She had taken off her school dress, and carried the blue one across her arm.
"What are you going to do?" asked Ellen.
Sarah did not answer. If she tried to speak, she should scream. She would at least put on her second-best dress and brush her hair before she went to Miss Ellingwood's room. She remembered in agony that she had never worn her red dress; probably she would never have an opportunity now, at least at the Normal School. She looked at her little silver watch with eyes which could scarcely find the hands.
Mabel and Ellen avoided each other's glance, and sat down by the table.