They entered their rooms as she was speaking.
“Just one cup of cocoa, and then we must get down to work. I’m afraid of Dr. Kitchell’s mathematics.”
“I’m afraid of everything. I never took an examination of any kind.”
“Dr. Kitchell is very fair; but he scares you to death weeks before. He is always holding exams up before you like a death’s head at the feast.”
The decided stand taken by Elizabeth caused no little discussion. The meeting adjourned without any definite action being taken. The only point gained by the discussion was opening the eyes of a few to the fact that their point of view might not be the only one. Many felt as Elizabeth. The matter was dropped for the time.
The examinations began early in the morning, running through several class periods. Elizabeth, provided with a motley array of examination paraphernalia, entered Dr. Kitchell’s class-room. The greater part of the class was already present, as were Dr. Kitchell and Miss Brosius. Dr. Kitchell was in the front of the room. Upon Elizabeth’s entrance, with a gesture of his hand, he waved her toward a seat in the middle row. It was not her accustomed place of sitting. She looked about her. There seemed to have been a general scattering. Each member of the class sat alone, isolated so far as the size of the room permitted. The reason for this Elizabeth did not understand, but attributed it to the eccentricities of an examination of which she had heard much. The examination questions, printed upon little slips, were handed to each student. Previously each young lady had been cautioned about providing herself with all necessary articles. Elizabeth had conscientiously heeded the caution. The top of her desk had the appearance of a department of a small stationery store.
She began her work. Dr. Kitchell walked up and down the room, never once turning his eyes from them. Miss Brosius rubbed her eye-glasses, and seating herself at the end of the room, kept her gaze fixed upon the back of the students’ heads. Such scrutiny was not calculated to make one feel at ease. For one hour no sound save the moving of pencils was heard. Then Miss Brosius spoke. “I have a class the next period, Dr. Kitchell,” she said. “I can stay no longer.”
“Miss Worden will be here in one moment to relieve you,” was the reply. “She has a physical geography class in Room C. It will not detain her long.”
Even as he spoke, Miss Worden, out of breath with her hurry, entered and took Miss Brosius’ place, while that instructor hurried off to her class-room.
Elizabeth paused in her demonstration. Here was a problem new to her. Why could not Miss Brosius leave until Miss Worden came in, and why did Dr. Kitchell stride up and down, up and down, never for an instant removing his keen eyes from the class before him?