Petty wept openly. Petty's griefs, sorrow or joys could invariably find prompt relief in tears or giggles. She existed in a perpetual state of emotion of some sort. Aileen murmured: "Look at Miss Stetson's face. She doesn't know whether to frown or smile. She will lose her reason presently." "Oh, why need the Empress have come in at all. We were having such fun and--" Sally paused significantly. Beverly nodded a quick comprehension of what the conclusion of Sally's sentence would have been, and said, under cover of the babel of voices, for even the Empress, stalking along ahead of her rebellious ones could not entirely subdue their protests: "And I am wondering what we shall find up in Number 10, and especially in bedroom A." And in spite of those possibilities she laughed softly. "And not a single mouthful of that delicious spread after those ten miles. I call it a perfect outrage," muttered Sally like a distant thunder-storm. Beverly flashed one quizzical, tantalizing glance at her. "Don't let _that_ worry you," she said. "What?" whispered Sally eagerly. "Hush. Listen to the Empress. Oh, isn't this the richest you ever heard?" CHAPTER XI "DE HANTS DONE GOT DIS HYER HOUSE SURE" They had now reached the south corridor, Miss Woodhull in the full force of her convictions, again heading straight for Suite 10, and bedroom A, in order to substantiate her statement of having within the past twenty minutes locked Beverly in. She was affirming in no doubtful voice to Miss Stetson: "There is no reason that I should try to justify myself or endeavor to prove that my faculties are unimpaired, unless I choose to do so, but I prefer to convince both you and Mrs. Bonnell that I generally know what I am talking about. You will find that door securely locked!" They needed no urging, but the door opened at a touch, locks nevertheless and notwithstanding. The light was switched on instanter. The room was absolutely undisturbed, likewise the bed. The puff cover, so lately hurtling through space and straight for Miss Woodhull's august head, lay neatly folded in a triangle across the foot of the bed. The pillow case did not show a line or crease. The spread was absolutely unrumpled. In short, not one single thing was out of place or tumbled. The room might not have been occupied for twenty-four hours so far as any sign of disturbance was evident. Miss Stetson looked just a trifle skeptical. Mrs. Bonnell's lips twitched a bit at the corners though her face was most respectfully sober. With one withering glance at Beverly, the teachers, and all concerned, Miss Woodhull remarked scathingly: "If you were capable of such expedition in worthier causes you would lead the school," and glancing neither to the right nor left, swept from the room.