“The noun for ‘decorous’ is ‘decorum.’ I am sorry my words have had no greater effect. Goodnight.”
“Of course, it’s decorum” said Virginia, as she went toward the door. “How foolish of me to forget! You’ve really given me a brand new idea, Miss Green. Good-night.” And she went upstairs, leaving behind her a puzzled and almost angry woman, whose knowledge of having done her duty was in some way quite eclipsed by a strange, yet indisputable, sense of having been badly beaten.
Study hour was in session when Virginia hurried through the hall toward her room; but two doors noiselessly opened as she passed, and four hands extended notes, which she took wonderingly. The door opposite her own did not open. In her room, Priscilla, instead of studying, was writing furiously in her “Thought Book,” which, apparently unread, had been sent two weeks before. As Virginia came in, she jumped up from the desk, and threw her arms around her.
“You poor, dear thing!” she cried. “We’re all furious! You didn’t do one thing but be polite. We’re more furious at Imogene for giggling! That only aroused Greenie’s suspicions. What did she say? Was she awful? I’m so glad you’re not crying. You got the notes, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Virginia, returning the embrace. She read the notes. All expressed a mixture of fury, loyalty, and sympathy. Then she took down her own “Thought Book,” for she had also begun to keep one, and placed the notes carefully between its pages. Priscilla watched her, puzzled. Most of the girls were crying with rage when they came from Miss Green’s room. Virginia opened the back part of her “Thought Book,” and separated some thirty pages from those before. Then she dipped her pen in the ink, but before writing, turned to Priscilla.
“Priscilla,” she said slowly, “she is a very unjust woman. I think she is very nearly a cruel one. I shall never try to like her again!”
While Priscilla watched her, more puzzled than ever, she began to write in large letters on the first of the pages thus separated.
“‘ALL TRUE WISDOM IS GAINED ONLY
THROUGH EXPERIENCE.’”
“These pages will contain accounts of wisdom-giving