Miss Peacock suddenly pulled the bell. Presently Manners appeared. He had been smoking in his kitchen. He thought it great fun to have the young ladies enjoying themselves with his daughters upstairs. But when he saw Miss Peacock he stepped back and grew very pale. He had certainly not reckoned on the head-mistress of the school appearing in person to demand her runaway scholars.
"Some of my young ladies are in your parlor," said Miss Peacock. "I am obliged to you, Manners, for treating them so hospitably, but the hour is too late for my girls to be from home. I have come to take them back. With your permission I will go upstairs at once."
"Shall I announce you, ma'am?"
"You will oblige me by remaining where you are. Come, Jessie."
They pushed the little greengrocer aside and went upstairs. The fun was at its height. Miss Peacock softly opened the door. She saw Florence Dixie holding her sides in convulsions of laughter, while Susan, lying back on an old Chesterfield sofa, was clapping her hands at the attempts of the two Manners girls to dance an Irish jig.
To attempt to describe the confusion, the amazement—nay, the despair—which filled the faces of two of those girls when they caught sight of Miss Peacock would be impossible. Maud gave a bitter cry and fell on her knees. A cloud came over Susan's face; she stood upright, her hands hanging to her side.
"The fun is up, girls," she said, turning to her companions. "Let's put out the lights and go home."
Making hysterical efforts, she tried to blow out one of the candles; but Miss Peacock came up and took her hand.
"Come, Susan; recollect yourself. Don't give yourself away more than you can help. Come home with me this moment."
"Florence, you said you'd keep me," said Susan.