“Go to your room,” she said; “I shall report all of you young ladies for this flagrant act of disobedience.”

Rose went, and in two minutes the drawer, which Miss Jane had replaced, opened again, and there was this note:—­

“If I’m never heard of more, give my love to my family, and
mention how I died.  I forgive my enemies; and leave Clover
my band bracelet. 
“My blessings on you both. 
“With the deepest regard,
“Your afflicted friend, R. R.”

Mrs. Florence was very angry on this occasion, and would listen to no explanations, but gave Katy and Clover a “disobedience mark” also.  This was very unfair, and Rose felt dreadfully about it.  She begged and entreated; but Mrs. Florence only replied:  “There is blame on both sides, I have no doubt.”

“She’s entirely changed from what she used to be,” declared Rose.  “I don’t know what’s the matter; I don’t like her half so much as I did.”

The truth was, that Mrs. Florence had secretly determined to give up her connection with the school at midsummer; and, regarding it now rather as Mrs. Nipson’s school than her own, she took no pains to study character or mete out justice carefully among scholars with whom she was not likely to have much to do.

CHAPTER VI.  THE S. S. U. C.

It was Saturday afternoon; and Clover, having finished her practising, dusting, and mending, had settle herself in No. 6 for a couple of hours of quiet enjoyment.  Every thing was in beautiful order to meet Miss Jane’s inspecting eye; and Clover, as she sat in the rocking chair, writing-case in lap, looked extremely cosy and comfortable.

A half-finished letter to Elsie lay in the writing-case; but Clover felt lazy, and instead of writing was looking out of window in a dreamy way, to where Berry Searles and some other young men were playing ball in the yard below.  She was not thinking of them or of any thing else in particular.  A vague sense of pleasant idleness possessed her, and it was like the breaking of a dream when the door opened and Katy came in, not quietly after her wont, but with a certain haste and indignant rustle as if vexed by something.  When she saw Clover at the window, she cried out hastily, “O Clover, don’t’!”

“Don’t what?” asked Clover, without turning her head.

“Don’t sit there looking at those boys.”

“Why? why not?  They can’t see me.  The blinds are shut.”

“No matter for that.  It’s just as bad as if they could see you.  Don’t do it.  I can’t bear to have you.”

“Well, I won’t then,” said Clover good-humoredly, facing round with her back to the window.  “I wasn’t looking at them either,—­not exactly.  I was thinking about Elsie and John, and wondering—­But what’s the matter, Katy?  What makes you fire up so about it?  You’ve watched the ball-playing yourself plenty of times.”