Judy began the ascent and pulled herself over the window sill. Then exhausted, she sat on the floor, holding her throbbing temples in both hands. That is why she did not see what was presently to happen. Just as Molly placed her foot on the first rung of the ladder, a firm hand grasped her arm. Why she did not shriek aloud with all the power of her lungs she never knew, but she remained perfectly silent while a voice--and it was Miss Walker's voice--said in her ear: "You will say nothing about this to-night. I wish you to come to my office to-morrow morning at ten. Do you understand?" "Yes, ma'am," answered Molly, reverting to her childhood's method of answering older people. She climbed the ladder in a dazed sort of way. It was more difficult than climbing down, but at last she scaled the window sill and jumped into the room. Judy was still sitting on the floor, holding her temples. Perhaps it had been only five minutes, but it seemed like a thousand years. However, she felt little sympathy for Judy, bruised temple or not. "Get up from there and get to your bed," she whispered. "And I want to hear from you exactly what you were doing down there and where you got that ladder." "The rope ladder belonged to Anne White," Judy answered in a stifled voice. "I borrowed it to win a wager from Adele. Of course, I don't mean to blame her, but she teased me into it. It was silly, I know, looking back on it now." "What was the bet?" "She bet that I would be afraid to climb down that ladder at midnight when the ghost is supposed to walk. I was simply to climb down, touch the ground and climb back again." "Idiots, both of you," said Molly furiously. "I know it, and I am sorry now," said the penitent Judy, "but fortunately no harm has been done except to my silly head, which needed a good whacking, anyhow." "No harm," thought Molly angrily. "I wonder what's going to happen to me to-morrow. One of us will be expelled, I suppose. Miss Walker is already down on Judy." "Thank you for coming down to me, Molly, dearest." Molly closed the door. "Judy, I want you to promise me something," she said. "If you get out of this scrape----" "But no one knows it but you." "I have no idea of telling on you, Judy, but things leak out. How do you know you weren't observed?" Judy looked startled. "I want you to promise me to give up this Adele Windsor and her crowd. She's never done you any good. She's a malicious, dangerous, wicked girl and if you haven't the sense to see it, I'll just tell you." This was strong language coming from Molly. "If you don't, mid-years will certainly see your finish, if you aren't dropped sooner. You're not studying at all and you are simply acting outrageously, dyeing your hair and borrowing rope ladders. I'm disgusted with you, Judy Kean, I am indeed." "Miss Walker has a grudge against me," announced Judy, in a hot whisper.