"Can any one give any information about this business?" she asked, then as nobody replied she continued, "I'm disgusted with the whole set of you. I wish to say that I'm not as blind as you seem to think, and I've noticed many points about your work that are, to say the least, extremely suspicious. I tell you once and for all _this must stop_! I won't have cheating, practical jokes, or impertinence in this form. Do you all thoroughly understand me? Very well then, don't let this kind of thing ever happen again. Empty those ink-pots out on to that tray, and, Winnie, fetch the ink-bottle out of the cupboard and refill them. This senseless proceeding has wasted a large part of your examination time, but I shall make no excuse for it. Your papers will be marked as if you had begun at nine o'clock." With Miss Bickford on the war-path no one dared to say a single word, but at mid-morning interval the injured Camellia Buds snatched their biscuits, and fled to their grotto in the garden to hold an indignation meeting. Here they talked fast and freely. "It's a jolly shame!" "_Most_ unfair!" "Poor old Peachy!" "Who did it?" "Why, Mabel, of course!" "Or Bertha?" "One or other of them!" "Miss Bickford has noticed their cheating!" "Yes, and puts it off on to us all!" "I like that!" "It's so gloriously fair, isn't it?" "She may say she's not blind, but she's an absolute cat!" "What's to be done about it?" "Those Stars won't ever tell!" "Trust them to screen themselves!" "Oh, it's _too_ bad!" Letting off steam, though comforting to their feelings, did not bring them any nearer to a solution of their problem. The unpleasant fact remained that the rival sorority had played an abominable trick, and that the blame at present rested upon Peachy. To prove her innocence required the wisdom of Solomon. If they could have explained the whole situation to Miss Bickford she would at once have seen for herself that the offender must be among the ranks of the Stars, but such a proceeding would mean not only an entire breach of schoolgirl etiquette, but a betrayal of their own secret society. It was not to be thought of for a moment. "Peachy'll have to climb down and apologize," decided Jess. "Peachy eat humble-pie? Oh, good-night!" "Well, she certainly was cheeky." "Small blame to her!" "It was very silly of her, though, to flare out." "She's in the fix of her life now, poor dear." "Can't we do anything to help her?" "I don't know. Let's think it over and hold another meeting this afternoon."