"Of course. Don't you see, they think you walk in your sleep and might kill yourself unless you're protected. Nice thing it'll be to have bars across our window and our door locked at night. It will feel like prison. I wish to goodness you'd never played such a trick!" "Well, I'm sure you all wanted me to. It wasn't my idea to begin with," retorted Marjorie. Great was the indignation in No. 9 at the prospect of this defacement of their pretty window. The girls talked the matter over. "Something's got to be done!" said Betty decidedly. [Illustration: THEY WERE HUDDLED TOGETHER, WATCHING HER WITH AWESTRUCK FACES] "Yes," groaned Marjorie, "I shall have to own up. There's nothing else for it. But I'm not going to tell the Acid Drop. I'm going straight to the Empress herself. She'll be the more decent of the two." "I believe you're right," agreed Betty. "Look here, it was my idea, so I'm going with you." "And I was in it too," said Irene. "And so was I," said Sylvia. "Then we'll all four go in a body," decided Betty. "Come along, let's beard the lioness in her den and get it over." Mrs. Morrison was extremely surprised at the tale the girls had to tell. She frowned, but looked considerably relieved. "As you have told me yourselves I will let it pass," she commented, "but you must each give me your word of honour that there shall be no more of these silly practical jokes. I don't consider it at all clever to try to frighten your companions. Jokes such as these sometimes have very serious results. Will you each promise?" "Yes, Mrs. Morrison, on my honour," replied four meek voices in chorus. CHAPTER IX St. Ethelberta's