"I don't agree with you at all," said Elma. "I think Kitty richly deserves her punishment. Of course," she added, "I don't want to be really hard on her; but unless she is made to feel shame when she does an outré and extraordinary thing like she did last night, she will go on doing similar deeds, and get the whole school into disgrace."
"Oh dear, yes," said Jessie, "that is perfectly true, and I should not like father to know that one of the Middleton girls had been spoken to by a rude boy in the street. I really believe he would take us both from the school."
"If you think so," said Elma, "you ought to oppose the petition."
"Are you going to, Elma?"
"Certainly."
"But you are a friend of hers, are you not?"
"Of course I am. I am very fond of her."
"And you oppose it for her good?"
"Undoubtedly; altogether for her good."
"And Miss Sherrard does know what is right," said Matilda, in a thoughtful voice. "Miss Sherrard was never a severe teacher. We all love her dearly."