"Stuff!"
"Cant!"
"Nobody asks your opinion about it. Who are you?" said the Mc Pherson, who in her own opinion was somebody.
"Nor do I ask yours," said Rotha. "I will not help you break madame's rules. The light is one fourth part mine; and my part shall not burn after hours."
With which deliverance she turned off the gas. Words of smothered rage and scorn followed her as she went back to bed; and the next day Rotha was plainly ostracised by a large part of her school-mates.
The next evening the gas was lighted again after ten o'clock.
"Now you Carpenter," said the reader, "I am not going to stand any of your ill manners. You will let the gas alone, if you please."
"I cannot let it alone," said Rotha. "I should be a sharer in your dishonour."
"Dishonour! well, let it alone, or I'll—"
"What, Miss Entable?"