"Yes, I did it. You have promised to come with me. She is locked safely in now. She may scream as loud as she can and not a soul will hear her there. I will let her out again if I come back. Perhaps I'll never come back. Perhaps I'll stay with Florence Dixie. I could write from there to my father. I couldn't get into greater disgrace."
"Then if you stay I'll stay too," said Maud "But, oh, Susan, I do think you are wicked!"
"Never mind now; come upstairs. Let us keep out of the way of all the others. We'll have one last fling—one last bit of fun."
A few of the Penwernians were scattered about. One of them came up and spoke to Susan.
"Do you know where Star is? I want her."
"I am not her keeper," said Susan roughly.
"But what about our feast to-night? Are we to have it?"
"I was going to speak about that," said Susan, recollecting herself. "As that precious Christian Mitford, about whom everyone is making such a ridiculous fuss, is still very ill, we had best not risk matters. The feast is therefore postponed for another week."
"I am glad," said the girl. "I begin to hate the Penwernians."