“Didn’t I tell you?” snapped Mable, addressing the group.  “Mary Louise is always on the wrong side.  Other schools are not criterions for this ramshackle establishment, anyhow.  We have twelve boarders and four day scholars, and how Miss Stearne ever supports the place and herself on her income is an occult problem that the geometries can’t solve.  She pays little Miss Dandler, her assistant, the wages of an ordinary housemaid; the furniture is old and shabby and the classrooms gloomy; the food is more nourishing than feastful and the tablecloths are so patched and darned that it’s a wonder they hold together.”

Mary Louise quietly seated herself upon the bench beside them.

“You’re looking on the seamy side, Mable,” she said with a smile, “and you’re not quite just to the school.  I believe your parents sent you here because Miss Stearne is known to be a very competent teacher and her school has an excellent reputation of long standing.  For twenty years this delightful old place, which was once General Barlow’s residence, has been a select school for young ladies of the best families.  Gran’pa Jim says it’s an evidence of good breeding and respectability to have attended Miss Stearne’s school.”

“Well, what’s that got to do with this insulting order to stay in evenings?” demanded Sue Finley.  “You’d better put all that rot you’re talking into a circular and mail it to the mothers of imbecile daughters.  Miss Stearne has gone a step too far in her tyranny, as she’ll find out.  We know well enough what it means.  There’s no inducement for us to wander into that little tucked-up town of Beverly after dinner except to take in the picture show, which is our one innocent recreation.  I’m sure we’ve always conducted ourselves most properly.  This order simply means we must cut out the picture show and, if we permit it to stand, heaven only knows what we shall do to amuse ourselves.”

“We’ll do something worse, probably,” suggested Jennie.

“What’s your idea about it, Mary Louise?” asked Dorothy.

“Don’t be a prude,” warned Mable, glaring at the young girl.  “Try to be honest and sensible—­if you can—­and give us your advice.  Shall we disregard the order, and do as we please, or be namby-pambies and submit to the outrage?  You’re a day scholar and may visit the picture shows as often as you like.  Consider our position, cooped up here like a lot of chickens and refused the only harmless amusement the town affords.”

“Gran’pa Jim,” observed Mary Louise, musingly, “always advises me to look on both sides of a question before making up my mind, because every question has to have two sides or it couldn’t be argued.  If Miss Stearne wishes to keep you away from the pictures, she has a reason for it; so let’s discover what the reason is.”

“To spoil any little fun we might have,” asserted Mable bitterly.

“No; I can’t believe that,” answered Mary Louise.  “She isn’t unkindly, we all know, nor is she too strict with her girls.  I’ve heard her remark that all her boarders are young ladies who can be trusted to conduct themselves properly on all occasions; and she’s right about that.  We must look for her reason somewhere else and I think it’s in the pictures themselves.”